Maire Tecnimont SpA, the contractor in charge of the Port Harcourt Refinery Company’s rehabilitation, has stated that it cannot disclose details of the rehabilitation process, including the expected completion date.
This response was communicated through the law firm Olajide Oyewole LLP, following an inquiry by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, who requested information about the project’s timeline.
In a letter dated September 30, 2024, the contractor explained that, as a private company, it is not obligated to comply with the Freedom of Information Act, which Falana had referenced in previous correspondence.
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“We are counsel to Maire Tecnimont SpA, and we have our client’s instruction to respond to your letters dated 17 and 24 September 2024 requesting information on the contract between our client and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd.
“Our client is a private company. Being a private independent contractor, our client is not a company in which any government has a controlling interest, and does not provide public services, functions, or utilize public funds for them to be bound by the obligations in the Freedom of Information Act.
“On this ground, our client regrettably cannot provide the information you have requested,” says Muyiwa Ogungbenro, Partner at Olajide Oyewole and addressed to Femi Falana.
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But the “client” is enjoying public funds?
The money they are recieving is public funds.
This is outrageous! Such arrogance can only come from a colonialist.
Can you imagine the guts? This is enough for Nigerian youths to ask for the termination of relationships between Nigeria and this company.
No wonder the refineries will never work!