Court Bars NNPC and Banks from Paying Chinese Firm Over Alleged $117,000 Debt

Justice Stephen Daylyop of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ordered that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and all Nigerian banks must not pay any money to Beijing Seajets International Forwarder Company Limited while the court decides on an alleged debt of $117,000.

The judge specifically barred NNPC Ltd from releasing funds to the Chinese firm, its directors, shareholders, agents, servants or privies “in whatever form or under any guise” related to the contractual dispute before the court.

The court also temporarily froze funds and assets belonging to Beijing Seajets International Forwarder Company Limited, which is alleged to owe the plaintiff $177,000.

These orders were issued by Justice Stephen Daylyop Pam in suit FHC/PH/CS/55/2026, following an ex parte motion filed by counsel for the plaintiff, M. K. Chinda, with H. Aigbiremolen of the law firm Thankgod Nwugha.

In the ex parte motion, the plaintiff, Wellman Group Limited, claimed that the defendant failed to pay for the hire of tugboats and barges used to transport and store heavy cargo in Nigerian waters between December 8, 2025, and January 27, 2026.

The cargo in question included a 340‑ton gas turbine and 300 tons of Giwu 1 and 2 generators moved from the Nigerian Ports Authority facility in Warri to Griniya Jetty, Lokoka, aboard the plaintiff’s barge, MV Dodi Star.

The plaintiff’s lawyer informed the court that the outstanding amount represented unpaid hire charges calculated at a daily rate of $12,987.10 for the maritime services rendered.

In his ruling, Justice Pam granted a Mareva injunction that restrains Beijing Seajets International Forwarder Company Ltd, its directors, shareholders, agents and representatives from withdrawing, transferring or dissipating funds held in any Nigerian financial institution until the substantive motion is heard.

The court also barred the company from selling, transferring or tampering with any movable or immovable assets, shares or funds located in Nigeria until the matter is determined.

Specifically, the orders read: “An order is hereby made restraining the defendant, its Directors, Shareholders, Agents, Servants, and/or Privies from withdrawing, tampering with or otherwise dissipating the funds in its bank accounts in any bank or other financial institutions within Nigeria up to the sum of US$117,000.00 (One Hundred and Seventeen Thousand United States Dollars) being the unpaid hire sum of plaintiff’s tug boats and barge, cost of conveyance and storage of the bulk cargo of 340 tons gas turbine and 300 tons Giwu 1 and 2 generator from NPA Ports Warri to Griniya Jetty Lokoka between 8/12/2025 and 27/1/2026, at the daily rate of US$12,987.10 (Twelve Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty Seven United States Dollars and Ten Cents) at the deck of the plaintiff’s barge, MV Dodi Star, within the territorial waters of Nigeria pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in this suit.”

“An order of Mareva injunction is hereby made restraining the defendant, its Directors, Shareholders, Agents, Servants, and/or Privies from dealing with, dissipating, transferring, selling or otherwise tampering with any assets (be it movable or immovable), shares, funds in any financial institution (however described) in Nigeria pending the hearing and final determination of the motion on notice.”

“An order of injunction is hereby made restraining the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPC Ltd) from paying over to the defendant, its Directors, Shareholders, Agents, Servants and/or Privies, in whatever form or under any guise, the sum ordinarily due and payable to the defendant arising from the defendant’s contractual obligation to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC Ltd) and giving rise to the agreement between the Plaintiff and the Defendant and this instant suit pending the hearing of the motion on notice.”

“A consequential order is hereby made directing all banks within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court as well as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPC Ltd), to depose on oath the sums due to the Defendant and/or standing to the credit of the defendant respectively in their custody within seven days from being served with a copy of the order of this Honourable Court.”

The next hearing of the matter has been adjourned to June 1, 2026 for mention.