Exclusive: Fresh Litigations emerge over N300million controversially withdrawn from Itsekiri RDC account

There are strong indications that the last may have not been heard regarding the three hundred million naira (N300,000,000.00) controversially withdrawn October 20, 2020 from the Keystone Bank account of Itsekiri Regional Development Committee, IRDC, as Aginejuone Agbonekuya, has filed a counter claim of ten billion naira (N10,000,000,000.00) against Chevron Nigeria Limited, over perceived defamation of character.

Fresh Angle International understands that Aginejuone Agbonekuya, is one of the Defendants in a case purportedly filed by Chevron Nigeria Limited at the Delta State High Court of Justice in Suit No. W/284/2022, between Chevron Nigeria Limited Vs Chief (Mrs.) Rita Lori Ogbebor and nine others.

The Oil and Gas Major, reportedly filed their writ of summons December 9 (earlier this month) at Delta State High Court of Justice, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State and This Flagship Niger Delta Online Newspaper, gathered that the first hearing in the case, will be coming up January 24, 2023.

Chevron’s prayers in the suit include; “An order directing that all monies withdrawn and/or transferred by the defendants from IRDC’s bank accounts domiciled in the 8^th defendant (Keystone Bank) pursuant to the consent judgement, including the sum of N300,000,000.00 withdrawn by the defendants on October 20, 2020 be refunded by the defendants to the IRDC’s bank accounts domiciled with the 8^th Defendant and an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, from withdrawing or transferring any fund from the IRDC’s bank accounts domiciled in the 8^th Defendant (Keystone Bank) pursuant to the consent judgement in EHC/20/2020”.

Aginejuone Agbonekuya, popularly referred to as Emma Lagos, slammed the counter claim against Chevron Nigeria Limited over what he described as, “deeply injurious defamation” of his character and integrity, portraying him in bad light before the public.

Agbonekuya, vehemently denied any involvement in the controversial withdrawal of the said N300 million, either individually or jointly, to secure any such controversial consent judgement from the Effurun High Court.  

In the suit filed at the Delta State High Court of Justice, between Chevron Nigeria Limited and Chief (Mrs.) Rita Lori Ogbebor and nine others, Chevron had alleged that Chief (Mrs.) Rita Lori-Ogbebor and six others, including Aginejuone Agbonekuya, jointly secured a consent judgement from the Effurun High Court in suit No. EHC/20/2020, which enabled them to access funds belonging to the Itsekiri Regional Development Committee (IRDC) domiciled at the Committee's Keystone Bank accounts, out of which at least three hundred million naira (N300,000,000.00) was withdrawn.

Chevron, reportedly approached the court, asking among other things, that the court should declare as nullity, the said controversial consent judgement and course the 1st to 7th Claimants (Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor and others) to make full refunds of the said N300,000,000.00 back into the coffers of the IRDC.

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