OML 114: Arrest Lulu-Briggs’ Wife, Court Orders Police, DSS, EFCC

By Adeleye Kunle

Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has issued an arrest warrant against the wife of billionaire oil magnet, Seiye Lulu-Briggs.

The court asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Nigeria Police and other security agents to arrest her wherever she is found within the jurisdiction of the court or outside.

The court issued the order following a request by the EFCC in a motion ex-parte moved by counsel to the EFCC, O. O. Adeola and an affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by Ufuoma Ezire.

After the motion dated May 12, 2022 was moved, the court granted the reliefs sought and held, ”Upon reading the affidavit in support of the Motion ex-parte deposed to by Ufuoma Ezire, Male, Adult, Nigerian and official of the E.F.C.C of Plot 301/302 Institution & research District, Jabi, Abuja, and filed at the court registry and after hearing 0.0. Adeola Esq. for the Applicant urging the court to grant the prayers.

“It is hereby ordered as follows: That an order of this Honourable court is hereby made issuing a warrant of arrest against MRS SEINYE LULU-BRIGGS.

“That an order of this honourable court is hereby made authorizing and or directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Police, Department of the State Security Services, the Nigerian Immigration Services and the Interpol to arrest on sight Mrs Seinye Lulu-Briggs anywhere sighted in Nigeria or outside Nigeria and produce her before this honourable court or to the EFCC’s Headquarters, Abuja.”

In the affidavit in support of the motion exparte, the deponent, a staff of the EFCC said the commission received three separate petitions against the defendant which were dated 20th January, 2016, signed by Aliyu Usman, SAN, 27th July, 2016, signed by one Theo Nwaigbo Esq. and the Federal Ministry of Justice by a letter dated 40 April, 2018, on behalf of the estate of Late Mr Dan Oguguo Obuekwe.

Ezire said in the affidavit in support of the motion, ”That three petitions were written against the Moni Pulo Ltd and its promoters; Chief Benson Lulu Briggs and Mrs Seinye Lulu Briggs.

“That the first petitioner, Chief S. O. Ariyo, alleged that Chief O.B Lulu-Briggs through his company Moni Pulo Ltd was granted oil prospecting license (OPL) 230 sometime in 1992 for which a signature bonus of $1m US Dollars is required to be paid to the Government.

“That Moni Pulo Ltd approached Trutec Investment Services Co. Ltd through Mr Dan Obuekwe to act as consultant and source for foreign technical and financial partners in which Trutec Investment Services Co. Ltd will be allotted 10 percent shares in Moni Pulo Ltd.”

He further alleged that his signature was forged adding that fewer shares were allotted to him and his name removed as shareholder without his knowledge.

The second and third petitioner, Mr Dan Oguguo Obuekwe, respectively, alleged that he being one of the ultimate beneficial owners of OPL 230 (OML 114) is being short changed by the Lulu-Briggs family.

He said in the affidavit, “That investigation activities letters were written to the Corporate Affairs Commission, the Department of Petroleum, Banks and the Federal Inland Revenue Services. That the applicant is yet to receive responses from other Banks in which accounts are contained therein the above schedule.

“That the responses received from the investigation activities sent to various institutions and individuals were analyzed and investigations reveals

“That the Department of Petroleum Resources through a letter dated 8 May 1992 conveyed the Ministers approval allocating OPL 230 to Nyemono Oil Limited. The Company was later changed to Moni Pulo Limited with same RC number 183333

“That the certificate of Incorporation for Moni Pulo Limited furnished by the CAC filed sometime in May 1996 and another in 1999 had Chief Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs, Kio Alex Okpukiri, F.A Agama, Godwin Lulu-Briggs and Dan Obuekwe as Directors. The allotted shares were in the ratio of 600,000, 100,000, 1000,000, 1000,000, and 100,000 respectively.

“That Godwin Lulu-Briggs was deceased as at the time he was allotted the Company shares by Dumo Lulu-Briggs who acted as the Company Secretary. Dumo Lulu Briggs in his statement could not explain the person who signed as Godwin Lulu-Briggs on the CAC forms filed by him.

“That there were several changes and distortions made to the list of Directors of Moni Pulo Limited for which no reasonable explanation was given by the operators of the Company. The most resent list furnished by the CAC dated 29!” February, 2012 had Pastor (Mrs) Seinye LuluBriggs, Solate Ovundah-Akarolo, Racheal Lulu-Brigss and O.B Lulu-Briggs Foundation as Directors.

“That in all the changes filed with the CAC over time by the operators of Moni Pulo Limited, there was no record showing that Dan Obuekwe had resigned as a Director of the Company.

“That a letter received from the CAC dated 28th July, 2021 stated that they could not find any Board resolution/documentation removing Dan Obuekwe as a Director and shareholder of the Company.

“That the current Chairman of Moni Pulo Limited: Mrs Seinye Lulu-Brigg claimed that Dan Obuekwe did not pay the shares allotted to him and it was on that basis his name was removed as a Director. She did not also show any record that other Directors paid any money for shares allotted to him. That sometime in 2018, a letter dated 4th April, 2018 was received by the applicant from the Federal Ministry of Justice, signed by the Director, Citizen Right Department forwarding a petition by Graylaw Solicitors on behalf of the Administrators of the Estate of Dan Obuekwe in respect to his entitlements, dividends, privileges as director/shareholder in Moni Pulo Ltd.

“That further investigations reveals that CAC doesn’t have in its record any evidence removing Dan Obuekwe as Directors and shareholder of the company.”