BEVERLY HILLS, May 28, (THEWILL) – Citizens of Afaha Eket Village in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have raised concerns over security threats in their community due to an ongoing tussle by business partners of Oil-Flow Qua Steel over an alleged contract breach.
They said that the ongoing faceoff among the firm’s contenders has increased soldiers’ presence in the area as well as strange faces of suspected hoodlums manning the entrance and premises of the company to prevent unwanted persons from gaining access to the company.
Investigations by THEWILL indicate that Oil-Flow Service Limited had on January 13, 2021 approached the Akwa Ibom State Government, through the Akwa Ibom State Investment and Industrial Promotion Council (AKIIPOC), to express interest to purchase Qua Steel’s scrap and obsolete metals.
Though the “expression of interest” letter was solely signed by one of the partners, Winifred Benedict Akpaka, other partners in Oil-Flow include Lucky Akhiwu, Donn Chuma Maduagwu, Osifo Godwin Osas, Uchenna Standhope Ukaku and Sunny Edah.
Our source, who craved anonymity for security reasons, tendered documents that provided insight into the crisis.
One of the documents made available to THEWILL indicated that the Oil-Flow Qua-Steel Partners had (due to the inability to raise the N200 million payment for purchase of Qua-Steel metals) drafted KAM STEEL into the deal as principal partners.
On joining the deal, KAM STEEL, investigations revealed, made available the said sum with an agreement that, “Nothing leaves the site until KAM STEEL exhausts the agreed materials paid for.
“On the 9th day of April, while at the Qua Steel site, I discovered from one of my partners, and our Principal partner (KAM STEEL LTD) who made this transaction possible by giving us an upfront payment of N250m for the purchase of the Qua Steel LTD, that Mr Lucky Akhiwu and his cohorts criminally conspired with the above-mentioned persons and collected some millions of naira without the knowledge of other partners,” said one of the petitions reported to have been written to the police by one of the partners.
Our source further disclosed that while some of the partners, including, Winifred Akpaka, were of the opinion that the purchased obsolete steel must not be sold out to external persons until KAM STEEL, the principal partner, exhausted the agreed materials paid for, Lucky Akhiwu on the other hand allegedly collected money from other non partners for materials already sold out.
The Project Director of KAM STEEL, Idowu Adeshina, when contacted, said the contract agreement was breached by Akhiwu, who, shortly after the site was opened for operations, allegedly turned around to sell the metals to others.
Adeshina narrated: “When Oil-Flow won the bid, it had no money to pay the N200m requested by the state government, when we were contacted, we asked for an extension of time by 24 hours to do our due diligence, we also requested that we pay the money directly to the state government’s account, but with their authorisation because we did not fully know them.
“We paid a total sum of N250m, N200m to the state government and N50m to Oil-Flow, as those who won the bid. The agreement was that we must lift all 1667 tons before any other person is permitted into the site, but shortly after opening the site for business, we started seeing strange faces who came in to claim certain sections of Metals had already been sold out to them by Lucky.
“So far we have lifted 1100 tons, but under strict contest and restrictions as every attempt to cut out material is resisted by those who claim to have paid some millions to Lucky.”
Akhiwu, who spoke to THEWILL, on phone said: “We don’t have any issue and I don’t know how this one take concern journalist-o!”
When asked about his relationship with his partners, he added, “I don’t have any partner.”
Youth President of Afaha Eket, Engr Jacob Jacob, who was also contacted, admitted to have been aware of the internal misunderstanding in the company, but however defended that such will have no negative impact on the community.
Jacob said: “Those are their internal crises; it does not affect the community because it has to do with the company’s problem. We actually do not know their terms of agreement. All we owe them as a community is an enabling environment. They have to settle their problems among themselves or go to court.
“As for hoodlums, they will not be able to operate here without the support of the community.”
Winifred Akpaka, when also called on phone, declined comments.
She, however, confirmed that relevant security agencies had been duly notified of the ongoing tension in the company and threats to her life.
About the Author
