Court Rejects Opeans Nigeria’s Request To Include NUPRC In BOSIET Certificate Fraud Case

A Delta State High Court, has rejected Opeans Nigeria Limited’s application to include the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) as a defendant in a lawsuit, which implicates Opeans Nigeria Limited, the American Petroleum Institute (API), Veriforce Limited Liability Company, and the Delta State Attorney-General, in allegations of fraudulent issuance of BOSIET certificates.

Opeans Nigeria Limited had attempted to involve NUPRC in the litigation but their bid was opposed on the grounds of Sections 307 and 308 of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, which prohibit the inclusion of NUPRC in a lawsuit without first serving appropriate pre-action notice.

The court presided over by Justice Joe Egwu, concurred with the plaintiff’s assertion that NUPRC was not implicated in this particular case, resulting in the denial of Opeans’ motion.

The lawsuit was stemmed from accusations against Opeans Nigeria Limited and other defendants of issuing counterfeit and tampered API and Veriforce BOSIET certificates, without the approval of the respective institutes.

It is alleged that Opeans Nigeria Limited has falsely represented that their training programs and certificates are endorsed by API and Veriforce, despite not having their official approval.

The API, a leading oil and gas industry authority, has unequivocally denied endorsing Opeans Nigeria Limited to conduct the BOSIET certification or issue such certificates.

This denial, had reinforced the purported allegations against the defendants and highlights Opeans Nigeria Limited’s alleged fraudulent claims of affiliation with API.

Industry sources claimed that the reported issuance of the alleged fraudulent BOSIET certificates had not only compromises the validity of the certification process but also poses substantial safety risks in the offshore oil and gas industry.

The source disclosed that this legal case would continue without the involvement of the NUPRC following the court’s decision to reject Opeans Nigeria Limited’s application.

The court has scheduled a ruling on the Interlocutory Injunction for October 18, 2023, which may have major implications on Opeans Nigeria Limited’s future, as the plaintiff seeks an order to stop Opeans Nigeria Limited from conducting the BOSIET certification.

Sources said that the case underscores the intricacies of the legal dispute and the significance of adhering to appropriate legal procedures.

“As the case unfolds, both parties will present their supporting evidence and arguments. The pending ruling on the Interlocutory Injunction will play a pivotal role in deciding the case’s outcome and its repercussions for the parties involved”, the source added.