Nigeria
P&ID: Guard our values, Obi takes on the Nigerian Judiciary
“As we have gladly received justice in a foreign land, may we learn to give justice to our countrymen,” Obi declared.
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate for the general elections of 2023, has challenged Nigeria’s court to uphold the country’s moral standards and welcome reforms in the administration of justice.
The former governor of Anambra State stated that if our judiciary accepts the spirit and message of change, a truly just and fair New Nigeria is achievable in a post on his X account (previously known as Twitter) on Wednesday.
He congratulated Nigeria for winning the arbitration award worth $11 billion against Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID) Limited.
Through the decision made on Monday by Commercial Courts of England and Wales Judge Robin Knowles, Nigeria was able to prevent the award—which had originally favoured P&ID—from being enforced.
The judge stated that the business had won the award against Nigeria through deceit.
Following the ruling, Obi complimented the country on its success.
Thank goodness, the case was determined in the United Kingdom, a country renowned for upholding the rule of law and for having a judiciary that provides the public with free and impartial justice. Thus, Nigerians as a whole and our judiciary in particular can learn a great deal from this,” the author stated.
“Every democratic society is founded on the idea of the rule of law, and every lawful society is based on a robust judicial system. In managing the identity crisis, election conflicts, and several high-profile corruption cases that have plagued our country, the judiciary has an unavoidable obligation to safeguard our beloved country’s moral framework.
Nigeria succeeded in its attempt to reject a $11 billion damages bill related to the contentious P&ID contract; but, comparable or even higher sums remain unaccounted for in Nigeria, and the offenders are free to roam the streets.
“I implore those holding public office in the various branches of government to realise that Nigeria is our only country and that we must all cooperate for its advancement.
“May we learn to give justice to our countrymen, as we have gladly received justice in a foreign land, so that our nation can enjoy peace, progress, and unity.” If our judiciary accepts the spirit and message of change, a New Nigeria that is genuinely just and equitable may be conceivable.
The P&ID and Nigeria signed a Gas Supply and Processing Agreement (GSPA) in January 2010 with the intention of developing a processing plant in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State. However, the agreement fell through in August 2012, and the company filed an arbitration case at the London Court of International Arbitration seeking $5.96 billion in compensation from Nigeria.
Nigeria was ordered by the arbitration panel to pay the firm $6.6 billion plus interest beginning in May 2013 for allegedly breaching the terms of the contract in January 2017. The interest, which was set at 7% ($1 million a day) until the verdict, had grown to be more than $11 billion.
Following that, Nigeria appealed the award’s enforcement, and in September 2020, the court granted the nation’s request for relief. The Nigerian side contended that there was sufficient proof to conclude that fraud was used to obtain both the contract and the arbitration ruling.
Thus, the Nigerian side asked the court to overturn the decision, claiming that several of the defendants in the case were facing charges of graft and money laundering.