The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday delivered judgment in favour of Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) in a case between the company and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) over the applicability of NIMASA fees. NIMASA had alleged that NLNG was liable to pay three percent 3% gross freight on its international inbound and outbound cargo, Sea Protection Levy, two percent 2% cabotage surcharge on all activities carried out for and on its behalf, as well as other sundry claims, all of which NLNG disputed.
The Court held inter alia, that the NLNG was not liable to make the said payments to NIMASA, and that all such payments already made to NIMASA be refunded to NLNG forthwith. The Court further held that NIMASA was wrong in blockading the Bonny Channel for the purpose of enforcing payments against NLNG.
