Lawyers to Amotoi Global Services Limited have asked Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company to immediately retract and apologize for a “false, malicious and defamatory statement” against their clients or face legal action.
This follows Aiteo’s announcement of the termination of its security surveillance contract with Amotoi based on allegations of involvement in illegal oil bunkering activities against the oil servicing firm.
Amotoi, through its lawyers, expressed dismay, shock, and disappointment at how Aiteo announced its decision to terminate the surveillance contract.
This was contained in a demand letter signed by Anthony Enyindah, Esq. of Lighthouse Law Partnership, and addressed to the Group Managing Director of Aiteo.
Enyindah chided Aiteo for failing to hear from his clients before proceeding to make their decision.
He says, “Our clients have no quarrels if you desire to terminate any contractual relationship with them, provided you do so in terms of the contract.
TheCable reports that Enyindah pointed out that while the allegations against Amotoi are weighty, security agents have neither arrested nor invited any of its staff members to be questioned.
He, therefore, accused Aiteo of being prejudicial in the matter and of making “far-reaching, irresponsible, and potentially damaging statements” without a chance to defend itself against Amotoi, which has been a long-standing business partner of Aiteo.
The legal practitioner maintained that the initial publications accusing Amotoi of criminality and oil theft were a hatchet job by his client’s competitor, which he said Aiteo had unknowingly bought into or may have sinister motives for.
Enyindah also pointed out that Aiteo’s statements continue to circulate unabated and have been read by Amotoi’s several business associates, maintaining that the company’s reputation has been damaged across the globe.
He gave the oil firm (Aiteo) a week to publicly refute or apologize for its statement or face legal action.
Recall that TimesNow.com.ng previously reported that Aiteo shut its pipeline following oil leaks in one of its facilities.
The company disclosed that the cause of the leak was being investigated.
TimesNow.com.ng earlier reported that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has declared a state of emergency on crude oil production.
Speaking at the ongoing 2024 Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week in Abuja on Tuesday, June 2, NNPC Ltd’s group chief executive officer, Mele Kyari, declared a decisive move to address forces and challenges hindering crude oil production in the country.
According to the NNPC Limited boss, Nigeria can conveniently produce two million barrels of crude oil daily without deploying new rigs.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
