Duport Midstream Crisis: Oghogho Makinde, NCDMB, Bolaji Kuku & Others Risk Jail For Allegedly Defying Court Order

One of the partners of a leading law firm, Aluko & Oyebode, Mrs Oghogho Makinde, late Chief MKO Abiola’s daughter, Mrs Bolaji Kuku, representative of NCMB, Natuboh Onyesoh, and others proceeded with an Emergency General Meeting of Duport Midstream Company Limited requisitioned by the aforesaid Makinde in defiance of the order of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos. 

Justice Aluko had on January 3, 2024, in Suit No: FHC/L/CS/1984 /2023 between Norsad Capital Limited & Ors and Platform Capital Management Limited & Ors ordered parties in the case to maintain status quo. 

Oghogho Makinde’s appointment as a receiver of Platform Capital is currently subject to litigation in the aforesaid suit. 

Despite the pending case against her appointment as a receiver, Oghogho Makinde continues to parade herself as a receiver/manager of Platform Capital and attempts to exercise shareholding rights despite the aforesaid court order.

The court in its bench ruling held that "It is hereby ordered as follows: “That parties in this case are hereby ordered to maintain the status quo and parties are forbidden from doing anything to foist a fait accompli on the court.” 

Justice Aluko made the order having heard Adeola Kembi for the Claimants, M.A. Oladiran, holding the brief of C. Adiukwu (SAN) for the 1st Defendant, O. Oshobi (SAN) for the 2nd Defendant/Counter-Claimant with F. T. Ayem, W. Ubiogwu Osita, F. Olusanya for the 2nd Defendant/Counter-Claimant, Akinwale Irokosu, Esq., for the 3rd Defendant, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) for persons seeking to be joined by application dated 17/10/2023.

But, in an alleged disobedience of the court order, the former Chairman, Duport Midstream Company Ltd, Bolaji Kuku, in a notice of a virtual Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of Shareholders of Duport Midstream Co Ltd, scheduled to hold on Thursday, the 18th day of January 2024 referred to the notice from Oghogho Makinde who is not a shareholder of Duport Midstream. 

The aforesaid Mrs Kuku had been removed at the Board Meeting of 15th November 2023, for deliberate and persistent absence from meetings, according to the court papers seeking ratification of her removal in suit FHC/L/CS/2343/2023. 

The matter came up before Justice Ambrose Allagoa on Monday 15th January 2024.

Among issues listed as an agenda for the meeting requisitioned by Makinde are the appointment of a Company Secretary for Duport Midstream Co Ltd, approval of the Appointment of a Law Firm to represent Duport Midstream Co Ltd, and Change of Signatory Mandates for Duport Midstream Co Ltd Bank Accounts.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has been asked to commit the alleged Receiver of Platform Capital Investment Partners Limited and some of its directors to prison over alleged refusal to obey an order of the court.

Form 48, which is a notice of consequence of disobedience of Court Order in the case filed by Norsad Capital Limited & 2 others warned that unless the alleged contemnors obeyed the directions contained in the Order of the Federal High Court made on 3rd January 2024, by Justice Akintayo Aluko, they would be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.

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