Indigenous oil firm, Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company is presently caught up in an oil bunkering controversy involving a security and surveillance firm Amotoi Global Services Limited.
According to the firm, the Benny Peters-owned company falsely accused it of oil bunkering and unceremoniously terminated its surveillance contract with them.
Reacting via its lawyers, Amotoi Global Services Limited in a demand letter signed by Anthony Enyindah, Esq. of Lighthouse Law Partnership, and addressed to the Group Managing Director of Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company, expressed dismay, shock, and disappointment at the allegations by Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company, adding that asides being baseless, the allegations have had damaging effects on its brand.
Enyindah who chided Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company for failing to hear from his clients before proceeding to terminate its contract said, “Our clients have no quarrels if you desire to terminate any contractual relationship with them, provided you do so in terms of the contract.
“Our clients, however, take serious exception to the false, malicious, and defamatory statements made by your company against our clients as your company’s reason for terminating the contract. “Our clients have always been at the disposal of your company. It is therefore curious that your company could not as much as communicate with our clients to know what defense (if any) our clients may have to these most heinous and grievous allegations.”
Furthermore, he demanded an immediate retraction of an earlier statement via which the allegations were made, and an apology to Amotoi over the allegation or be ready to face legal action.
Describing the allegations as a “false, malicious and defamatory statement”, the law firm said it would not hesitate to seek legal redress against Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company if the apology is not tendered within the stipulated duration.
Enyindah pointed out that while the allegations against Amotoi are weighty, security agents have neither arrested nor invited any of its staff members to be questioned. He therefore, accused Aiteo of being prejudicial in the matter and of making “far-reaching, irresponsible, and potentially damaging statements” without a chance to defend itself against Amotoi, who has been a long-standing business partner of Aiteo.
“We and our clients are unaware of any security agency that has contacted our clients concerning this matter.
“This is most prejudicial and taints your company, its statements, processes, and any further or future investigations as far as this matter is concerned.
“The publications that were circulating and based upon which your company’s decision and statements were made are a clear hatchet job.”
The legal practitioner also maintained that the initial publications accusing Amotoi of criminality and oil theft were a hatchet job by his client’s competitor, which he said Aiteo had unknowingly bought into or may have sinister motives for.
Enyindah also pointed out that Aiteo’s statements continue to circulate unabated and have been read by Amotoi’s several business associates, maintaining that the company’s reputation has been damaged across the globe. He gave the oil firm (Aiteo) a week to publicly refute or apologize for its statement or face legal action.
Recall that Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company shut its pipeline following oil leaks in one of its facilities. The company disclosed that the cause of the leak was being investigated.
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