The Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) said the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday delivered judgment in its favour in a case between it and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) over applicability of NIMASA levies.
NIMASA had alleged that NLNG was liable to pay three percent gross freight on its international inbound and outbound cargo, Sea Protection Levy, two percent cabotage surcharge on all activities carried out for and on its behalf, as well as other sundry claims, all of which NLNG disputed.
In his judgment, Hon. Justice M.B. Idris held inter alia, that NLNG was not liable to make the said payments to NIMASA, and that all such payments already made by NLNG to NIMASA should be refunded to NLNG forthwith.
Spokesman of the NLNG Kudo Eresia-Eke said in a statement that Hon. Justice Idris further held that NIMASA was wrong in blockading the Bonny Channel for the purpose of enforcing the payments against NLNG.
NLNG, in 2013, filed the case at the Federal High Court against NIMASA, seeking a judicial determination on, among other things, the legality or otherwise of the levies sought to be imposed on NLNG by NIMASA, and the consequent blockade of the Bonny Channel by NIMASA and its agents as a result of the dispute.
NLNG had also sought a Court Order restraining NIMASA from further blockade of the Channel.
NIMASA had filed a Counterclaim restating its supposed entitlement to receive payment of the levies from NLNG.
