The Department of State Service (DSS) says the alleged diversion of N11bn worth of petroleum products could cause economic sabotage, which is punishable by death.
The agency has accused Ifeanyi Ubah, managing director of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, of diverting the products.
This was stated in a counter-affidavit and written submission filed by the DSS in opposition to an application by Ubah, asking an Abuja high court to set aside an order for his detention for 14 days.
The secret police failed to produce him before the court on Tuesday.
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Although no reason was given for his absence which stalled his trial, the security agency is believed to be acting on the order of the Abuja court authorising it to detain Ubah in its custody for at least 14 days.
In a counter-affidavit and written submissions filed by the agency, it described Ubah’s alleged diversion of the petroleum products kept in his custody by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as “an economic sabotage punishable by death.”
It stated that Ubah shunned NNPC’s repeated demand for the product “in order to cause an artificial scarcity of the product.”
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It also said Ubah’s alleged crime is capable of causing great damage to the country.
The counter-affidavit filed by Safwan Bello, a DSS detective, stated thus: “the respondent was arrested on reasonable suspicion of his involvement in the commission of crime. He converted PMS belonging to the NNPC kept in the custody of his tank farm to his personal use.”
15 comments
The rule of law is the legal principle that law should govern a nation. But, with the current DSS act of intimidation it has shwon there’s no law.
Now, how could you arrest a man and incarcerate him using Federal power?
NNPC owes Capital Oil and Gas over 16billion naira. All through the years, NNPC forgot heeding the call for round table discussion so business dispute e should be discussed and solved. Suddenly, NNPC employed DSS to come and collect debt.
Is DSS now debt collector?
#Justice4IfeanyiUbah
This is a clear case of Executive brigandry. A total aberration to rule of law and commonsense.
Now the facts are ; The DSS in heir earlier claim stated that Dr.Ifeanyi Ubah was inciting the tanker drivers against the government and was tagged economic sabotage.
Today, the DSS has schanged its song to to scarcity. … Scarcity ?
Was the product in question sold in Cotonou or Mali ? Was it sold to animals or Nigerians.
Did Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah drink N11Bn worth of fuel ? The fuel was distributed to curb scarcity when President Buhari was about to be inaugurated. Who is then more patriotic to Nigerians?
Is it not Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah who released fuel in his custody to quench the sufferings of Nigerians. How can the DSS now turn around and accuse him of inducing scarcity ? Does that make any sense? How does releasing product into the market induce scarcity?
The inconsistency and lies in the claims of the DSS must be pointed out. In their attempts to bamboozle the court with cheap lies, they got knocked back by Capital Oil’s lawyers who informed court that the DSS’ lawyer’s rants were not stated in his counter claim and has no meaning to the case. Sadly, they have resorted to disabusing the minds of the public by getting the press to publish and peddle falsehood.
Since when did the purnishment for bridging of a buisness contract now become death sentence. And did DSS forget that NNPC owes Dr ubah 16b too or is is because NNPC is ownd by the FG so they have decided not to pay their own dept but to intimade Dr Ubah. What do they mean by selling d pms could would have led to scacity. Was it not withing Nigerians that the PMS was sold abi did he drink it. All i see here is tyranny in d part of DSS. And shame on our so called democracy. Where so called security agencies intimidate citizens for no reason.
This DSS is clearly confused. If crude theft is the charge, why have they refused to produce Ubah in court?
The Nigerian NNPC is owing Ubah more than 11bn and is threatening the man with death.
This country has gone to the dogs
I think the question to be asked is, Who is afraid of Dr Ifeanyi Ubah. the false allegations and uncertainty towards the money owed shows clearly how much some people want to pull him down.
Nigerians must resist the wicked claws of the DSS in denying every citizen their rights.
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This is absolutely ridiculous. The DSS should act within the confines of the law. this media trial and calculated attempt to disparage Dr Ubah must stop. Ubah’s detractors, after failing to nail him on several issues have resorted to cheap blackmail.
Economic sabotage my foot.
They tried to rope Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah into Dasukigate, they found nothing. They searched for TAN’s involvement, they found nothing. They now want to give his transaction a bad, a sort of payback for the waves TAN made. If this commercial dispute is punishable by death, what becomes of those that were involved in crude swap without delivering petroleum product or remitting the money for over 3 years of loading Capital Oil’s crude oil.
What of those that stole crude? In their first press release and in the lagos court, they said Dr. Ubah was inciting tanker drivers which translates to economic sabotage in their thinking.
When they could not substantiate their claim with any proof, they subsequently changed gear to allege that Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah was trying to cause scarcity by distributing petroleum products and hence, a capital crime punishable by death.
How senseless. The question is did Capital Oil sell the product in Cotonou or Mali? Was it sold to animals or Nigerians? Who is by this act instigating scarcity? Dr. Ubah or NNPC ?.
This same Capital Oil that has been rescuing NNPC when they lacked product. This same company has frequently rescued the country in petroleum crises and during strike actions. Did NNPC inform DSS that they have been borrowing product also from Capital Oil on more than 3 occasions this year.
Will they also be condemned to death for borrowing product from a private citizen to support their inefficiency or incompetence. Nigerians should expect more expose as there is ample evidence to show that Capital Oil borrowed NNPC petroleum products to cover their inefficiencies
Just one question guys:
When did misunderstanding over debts become directly linked to death or death threats?
Even North Korea is not this stupid
This is just insanity
The way our security agencies follow matter sometimes make me to actually question their professionalism.
The court asked you to produce Dr Ifeanyi Ubah, DSS failed to do so without any reason what-so-ever.
The DSS accusation that Mr Ubah committed an economic sabotage is punishable by death is very baseless and senseless. These pms, was it exported out of Nigeria to neighboring West African Countries or was it sold to Nigerians? These pms was sold in Nigeria to Nigerians. Mr Ubah did not drink the N11bn pms.Nigerians should also be made to know the truth that NNPC owes Dr ubah N16b too and it is because NNPC is owned by the FG so they have decided not to pay their own dept but to intimidate Dr Ubah.
Several times NNPC forgot heeding the call for a round table discussion so business dispute should be discussed and solved. Suddenly, NNPC employed DSS to come and collect debt. Has DSS been suddenly converted to a debt collector?
Did NNPC inform DSS that they have been borrowing product also from Capital Oil on more than 3 ocassions this year.
Will they also be condemned to death for borrowing product from a private citizen to support their inefficiency or incompetence. Nigerians should expect more expose as there is ample evidence to show that Capital Oil borrowed NNPC petroleum products to cover their inefficiencies.
DSS/NNPC are only trying to use their FEDERAL MIGHT to bully Dr Ubah maybe because of his involvement in TAN and they found nothing to rope him into Dasukigate. They now want to use this transaction/impasse between Capital Oil and Gas and NNPC as sort of a payback for the waves TAN made.
If this commercial dispute is punishable by death, what becomes of those that were involved in crude swap without delivering petroleum product or remitting the money for over 3 years of loading Capital Oil’s crude oil.
What of those that stole crude? In their first press release and in the lagos court, they said Dr. Ubah was inciting tanker drivers which translates to economic sabotage in their thinking.
When they could not substantiate their claim with any proof, they subsequently changed gear to allege that Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah was trying to cause scarcity by distributing petroleum products and hence, a capital crime punishable by death.
DSS accusation is very senseless indeed.
Imagine an utterance from the state agent. DSS has no such right to pronounce anyone guilty or innocent, why the Media trial, why doing all they could to bring down the brand Ifeanyi Ubah, a man who has stood for this Nation in so many times of desperate needs. Should the DSS not have held to court since they felt Dr Ubah is guilty. It’s obvious someone somewhere wants Capital Oil and Gas Boss down by all means. DSS has been subjected to agent of intimidation and harassment against the Nigerian Citizens. Those who seek for the Down fall of this Patriotic statesman will fail woefully. Nigerians must stand up to resists this evil from a state apparatus.
Parties in a contract are guided according to the substance of the said contract. In the case of NNPC and Capital Oil and Gas Ltd, the later has a lien on the product deposited by the former as security. It is a right inherent from the said transaction. It is a legal right.
Once a contract is executed, a lien becomes the legal right of a creditor to sell the collateral property of a debtor who fails to meet the obligations of a loan or other contract.
The property that is the subject of a lien cannot be sold by the owner without the consent of thelien holder.
At this juncture one is poised to ask. Was Capital Oil and Gas Ltd indebted by NNPC ? Yes
What is the substance or contractual relationship of both parties ? Yes
Was there any element in the contrary vitiated by either party ? Yes
Is there remedy ? Yes
With all these questions and answers above one would clearly know that this is a media trial and unwarranted intimidation of Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah by the NNPC and DSS
How I wish the DSS will stop disgracing this nation and get down to real business! What has Ifeanyi Ubah done to deserve all these false accusations? A man with passion for developmental achievement and economic emancipation of the people. I wonder where we are going as a nation, when will these guys stop their childish attitude of wanting to shut out and shout down people with good motives just because of tribe and variance in ideaology. May God heal the land.
All the earlier comments were written by same person acting on behalf of Ifeanyi Ubah.
ROTFL…