₦airaland Forum

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit by Intels Nigeria Limited seeking to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating transactions connected to an alleged $74 million debt owed to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment on October 2, 2026, according to court documents reviewed by journalists.

The court held that a contractual relationship and an arbitration clause do not automatically prevent a criminal investigation where allegations extend beyond an unpaid debt to possible diversion or conversion of funds.

However, the judge stressed that the EFCC could not use its investigative powers to determine the parties’ contractual rights or finally settle their disputed accounts.

Intels Challenged Investigation of Agency Agreement

Intels brought the amended suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/164/2022, against the EFCC, its chairman, the NPA and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The logistics company sought, among other reliefs, an order preventing the commission and its operatives from further demanding $74 million allegedly due under its Managing Agency Agreement with the NPA.

The agreement was first entered into in 1998 and subsequently renewed in 2003, 2011 and 2018.

Intels argued that invitations, arrests and questioning of its officials concerned a civil contractual dispute and amounted to harassment and misuse of the commission’s powers.

It alleged that EFCC operatives attempted to interpret the agreements during questioning in April 2021, rejected an ongoing account reconciliation process and asserted that their calculations showed a $74 million shortfall.

EFCC Cited Alleged Non-Remittance and Payment Diversion

The EFCC maintained that the NPA’s petition raised issues requiring criminal investigation.

According to the commission’s account before the court, the NPA alleged non-remittance of $148,152,572.42 as of 2017.

The petition also alleged that some third-party payers were directed to send funds to an account belonging to Intels West Africa Limited in the United Kingdom, rather than the account contemplated by the contractual arrangements.

The commission referred to additional allegations involving transactions and funds of up to $1,247,947,083.

Those figures concern allegations presented during the proceedings. They are not findings that Intels owes each amount, and they should not be added together as a single established liability.

Court Distinguishes Contract Disputes From Criminal Allegations

Justice Nwite held that the existence of a contract does not, by itself, determine whether conduct arising under it is exclusively civil.

He found that the complaint provided a factual basis for investigating allegations of diversion and conversion that were sufficiently distinct from the mere existence of a debt.

The judge therefore rejected the argument that the EFCC’s entire involvement amounted to civil debt recovery.

He also held that an arbitration clause governs contractual dispute resolution but does not give transactions immunity from lawful criminal investigation.

EFCC Cannot Finally Determine Disputed Accounts

The court nevertheless emphasised the limits of the commission’s authority.

Its decision did not empower the EFCC to adjudicate the contractual accounts between Intels and the NPA or remove either party’s access to arbitration and other available remedies.

The distinction matters commercially: a company can dispute an account through contractual procedures while particular transactions remain subject to investigation within an agency’s statutory powers.

For businesses entering major transactions, the wider assessment includes financing, contractual obligations and execution risks, as discussed in The Business Bureau’s guide to evaluating a supply contract before committing resources.

NPA Challenged Its Inclusion in the Suit

In a preliminary objection filed in July 2025, the NPA argued that the suit principally challenged the EFCC’s conduct and powers.

It maintained that Intels had disclosed no reasonable cause of action against the authority.

Ultimately, Justice Nwite found that Intels had not established grounds for the broad declarations and injunctions requested and dismissed the suit.

The judgment permits a lawful investigation to proceed. It does not amount to a criminal conviction or a final determination that the alleged $74 million debt is payable.

Longstanding Disagreement Over Revenue Remittances

Intels provides integrated logistics services to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Its relationship with the NPA has involved earlier disputes over boat pilotage revenue. In 2017, the Federal Government directed the cancellation of a monitoring and supervision contract amid allegations of non-remittance, which Intels disputed.

The company maintained at the time that the NPA was indebted to it.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar separately stated in 2023 that he had sold his interest in Intels in 2020 for $100 million and was no longer a shareholder.

Source: https://businessbureaunews.com/intels-efcc-74m-npa-dispute-court-ruling/

The timing of all these!...looks politically motivated to me

This only reaffirms my resolve on Peter Obi.

Just imagine wat this people would've done if Peter Obi had any skeletons in his cupboard.

For a Nigerian politician, Peter Obi is a saint, the only Politician I trust.

Just beam the search light on Tinubu for a second, is that the character u want as President,?

This was Atiku's cash cow before PMB ended everything.

Atiku Abubakar's skeletons

APC really want to finish Atiku Abubakar completely, kai

Justice Nwite of all people .

Politically Motivated!

What happened in Osun to APC will be replicated on a national scales especially the North.

Haba !

Karma sha! For decades, lasting into PDP/Jonathan’s regime, Atiku was using INTELS to milk Nigerian public funds only to lose out under Buhari after teaming up with him to oust Jonathan. Una see that b!tch called karma?

franchasng:
APC really want to finish Atiku Abubakar completely, kai

"People who live in glass houses should not throw stones."

Atiku should have know this.

wordproof:
The timing of all these!...looks politically motivated to me

Hiw about when atiku hired that snakes oil man okeke on a wild goose chase to go looking for some fbi files on tinubu few months to election.......what would you call that.....atiku drew first blood!!

wordproof:
The timing of all these!...looks politically motivated to me

This only reaffirms my resolve on Peter Obi.

Just imagine wat this people would've done if Peter Obi had any skeletons in his cupboard.

For a Nigerian politician, Peter Obi is a saint, the only Politician I trust.

Just beam the search light on Tinubu for a second, is that the character u want as President,?

You're right. They can't find any wuruwuru with Peter Obi and that's why they're pained. This is for atiku. They're gonna fight him dirty and defame him. In his best interest, he should just align with, and support Obi in the coalition. Otherwise, the apc will reduce him to nothing

He should ask those governors and senators who became apc members overnight . Does anyone think it was their wish? A lot of them have weighty corruption allegations hanging on their neck and with the EFCC. Once they remind them, they would just defect and that's why the majority of our politicians don't like obi. A lot of them will go to jail ,should obi win.

This is the last chance Nigeria has of bringing Nigeria back on the trajectory of hope. We dare not miss it.

We have wicked leaders . If Mr Atiku wasn't interested in the presidency ,this homogenous sum would be allowed to lie down despite the government been aware before now.
None of these people parading themselves to rule Nigeria deserve a shot at the top office .

wordproof:
The timing of all these!...looks politically motivated to me

This only reaffirms my resolve on Peter Obi.

Just imagine wat this people would've done if Peter Obi had any skeletons in his cupboard.

For a Nigerian politician, Peter Obi is a saint, the only Politician I trust.

Just beam the search light on Tinubu for a second, is that the character u want as President,?

What is wrong if it.is politically motivated?

Is Ikemefuna not politically motivated ?

fabolouz1:
We have wicked leaders . If Mr Atiku wasn't interested in the presidency ,this homogenous sum would be allowed to lie down despite the government been aware before now.
None of these people parading themselves to rule Nigeria deserve a shot at the top office .

What kind of hypocrisy is this?

Unless you didn't say the same about Ikemefuna.

I will support the prosecution of this EFCC Chairman by any subsequent administration. He is clearly corrupt and witch-hunting members of the opposition.

At last we can know how Atiku had been ripping Nigeria off with a contract whereby only his company intels can collect revenue on behalf of the Nigeria port authority yet the Peter Obi suppprters do not see anything wrong with that since they lack the ability to think rationally.

Lanruze:
Justice Nwite of all people .

Politically Motivated!

What happened in Osun to APC will be replicated on a national scales especially the North.

Haba !

The APC came 2nd in Osun State, the person that won the election has pledged allegiance to the APC, the illusional political parties that u are hoping to defeat The APC, did not even collate 59k votes combined in the Osun State governorship election. The

wordproof:
The timing of all these!...looks politically motivated to me

This only reaffirms my resolve on Peter Obi.

Just imagine wat this people would've done if Peter Obi had any skeletons in his cupboard.

For a Nigerian politician, Peter Obi is a saint, the only Politician I trust.

Just beam the search light on Tinubu for a second, is that the character u want as President,?

I know you no fit read and understand dat long text but the mata be say the case don tey since Goodluck Jonathan and Buhari time so no be today or because of election....

Now about Peter Obi i will agree that he's clean if he explain the ecological funds of Anambra wey him say he keep for first bank account wey dem no find there so explain that one biko instead of deceiving yourself everybody do see Peter Obi yarnsh finish na only una wey no dey reason normal still dey lie to una self

Wow ! This is seriously serious

Intel be like na ATIKU get that company
I don dey hear about dem for years now though not for good reasons....

psalmsjob:
I know you no fit read and understand dat long text but the mata be say the case don tey since Goodluck Jonathan and Buhari time so no be today or because of election....

Now about Peter Obi i will agree that he's clean if he explain the ecological funds of Anambra wey him say he keep for first bank account wey dem no find there so explain that one biko instead of deceiving yourself everybody do see Peter Obi yarnsh finish na only una wey no dey reason normal still dey lie to una self

Is Soludo Peter Obi's predecessor?...Obi left money to Obiano's administration, if Soludo can't find it he should ask Obiano

Gotocourt:
This was Atiku's cash cow before PMB ended everything.

The company was jointly owned with Tinubu for a long time before Atiku divested himself.

Intels was in business long before Atiku became VP. It was established in 1982 as Nicotes Services Limited.

That was 17 years before Obasanjo invited Atiku to be his running mate, even though he won Adamawa governorship earlier in January 1999.

NPA gives Atiku, Tinubu’s Intels two weeks to pay $48m

January 31, 2018

Intels, a logistics and facilities services provider in the maritime and oil and gas sectors, was co-founded by Gabriele Volpi, an Italian national, and former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku has since sold down most of his interest in the company to the former Lagos State governor and APC national leader Bola Tinubu.

https://dailypost.ng/2018/01/31/npa-gives-atiku-tinubus-intels-two-weeks-pay-48m/

wordproof:
Is Soludo Peter Obi's predecessor?...Obi left money to Obiano's administration, if Soludo can't find it he should ask Obiano

You're avoiding the question....the issue is that the total amount in that account as provided by first bank to soludo government after Peter Obi himself gave the bank account details and amount that he kept in it the is that the total amount that ever was in the account is not even up to half of what Peter said he saved in it and that the account is operated as an IGR account which was being managed by Peter Obi uncle whom he appointed as chairman of revenue collectorfor parks and markets in Anambra during his tenure as governor.

Therefore the matter is not about whether the money was spent by Obiano but that the amount in the account was never up to what Peter Obi claimed was saved in it and so that ecological fund is still missing and your Peter Obi had kept quiet about it since the disclosure and people like you are not asking questions or clarifying it for him....na so ecological fund go miss?

99thEnemy:
Atiku Abubakar's skeletons

Skeletons in a company that is not his any longer

psalmsjob:
You're avoiding the question....the issue is that the total amount in that account as provided by first bank to soludo government after Peter Obi himself gave the bank account details and amount that he kept in it the is that the total amount that ever was in the account is not even up to half of what Peter said he saved in it and that the account is operated as an IGR account which was being managed by Peter Obi uncle whom he appointed as chairman of revenue collectorfor parks and markets in Anambra during his tenure as governor.

Therefore the matter is not about whether the money was spent by Obiano but that the amount in the account was never up to what Peter Obi claimed was saved in it and so that ecological fund is still missing and your Peter Obi had kept quiet about it since the disclosure and people like you are not asking questions or clarifying it for him....na so ecological fund go miss?

Pls post the bank statement of all you stated here. Show us and if u don't then I guess it's one of ur useless propagandas!!!!

Wait!...did I hear u say "an IGR account being managed by Peter Obi's Uncle" c'mon naww there's no way on earth u can be that dumb.

psalmsjob:
You're avoiding the question....the issue is that the total amount in that account as provided by first bank to soludo government after Peter Obi himself gave the bank account details and amount that he kept in it the is that the total amount that ever was in the account is not even up to half of what Peter said he saved in it and that the account is operated as an IGR account which was being managed by Peter Obi uncle whom he appointed as chairman of revenue collectorfor parks and markets in Anambra during his tenure as governor.

Therefore the matter is not about whether the money was spent by Obiano but that the amount in the account was never up to what Peter Obi claimed was saved in it and so that ecological fund is still missing and your Peter Obi had kept quiet about it since the disclosure and people like you are not asking questions or clarifying it for him....na so ecological fund go miss?

If all the nonsense you spewed is true, pls petition EFCC immediately.

A man that turned down legitimate pension, houses, land and even cars and house from a bank he served as Chairman won't be bothered with stealing his state's ecological fund.

He's not ur thieving drug Lord that approved bogus pension plan for himself, wife and children, used his company to collect and pocket state taxes and murdered Nigerian youths for protesting in front of one of his cash cows!

Something that happened between 1998 and 2018?

anonimi:
Skeletons in a company that is not his any longer

It happened when he still had shares with them, not after 2020.

Why is EFCC not going after Peter Obi or his businesses now?

Abi, they are seeing him as irrelevant or what?

wordproof:
Pls post the bank statement of all you stated here. Show us and if u don't then I guess it's one of ur useless propagandas!!!!

Wait!...did I hear u say "an IGR account being managed by Peter Obi's Uncle" c'mon naww there's no way on earth u can be that dumb.

A simple google search or here for the topic of Anambra state government detailed response to peter obi claims of not owing and salary or pension will show you the document you are looking for before saying anything but if it was other people you will believe without asking for document even this Atiku intel matter you concluded that he was guilty and that only Peter obi is clean without asking to see the record but hide behind one finger and think you're deceiving everybody but it is only yourself you're lieing to and you know it.

psalmsjob:
A simple google search or here for the topic of Anambra state government detailed response to peter obi claims of not owing and salary or pension will show you the document you are looking for before saying anything but if it was other people you will believe without asking for document even this Atiku intel matter you concluded that he was guilty and that only Peter obi is clean without asking to see the record but hide behind one finger and think you're deceiving everybody but it is only yourself you're lieing to and you know it.

Pls post the link of ur "Google search"

Listen kid, if u don't have the bank statement whr u accused Obi of lying and insisted the transactions on the account from 2013 till date is not up to 2.1 billion naira, pls do not quote me again. I'm allergic to bigots and rabble rousers

wordproof:
If all the nonsense you spewed is true, pls petition EFCC immediately.

A man that turned down legitimate pension, houses, land and even cars and house from a bank he served as Chairman won't be bothered with stealing his state's ecological fund.

He's not ur thieving drug Lord that approved bogus pension plan for himself, wife and children, used his company to collect and pocket state taxes and murdered Nigerian youths for protesting in front of one of his cash cows!

Peter Obi provided the bank and account number and amount he saved in the bank should have sued the bank immediately they "claim" the total money ever in that account is not up to half of what he said he safe in it from the ecological fund. Mind you nobody asked Peter Obi about the fund but his conscience was troubling him i guess so he should clear his name so that EFCC should not start and people like you will say it is because of election like you had already said before remember.

Peter Obi should petition EFCC to investigate the bank for providing false account history that says the total money that was ever in the account during and after his tenure is not up to half of the over 2 billion that Peter Obi himself said he saved in the account.


Hypocrisy will not let you say the truth. Na una way and everyone knows we just dey look una so continue but by January 2027 una eye go clear.

That time after 2027 election I will personally get a lawyer to petition EFCC about this ecological fund because e no go miss just like that