By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
Concerned youths of Afaha Eket village in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom have expressed concerns over security threats in their community due to supremacy battle by oil firm, Oil Flow Qua Steel Partners (OSQP) and other stakeholders.
The youths say the ongoing face off by contending partners has not only increased military presence in the area, but has also attracted strange faces suspected to be hoodlums who man the entrance and premises of the company to prevent some of the partners from gaining access to the company.
Oil Flow Service Limited had on January 13, 2021 approached Akwa Ibom State government, through the state Investment and Industrial Promotion Council (AKIIPOC) to express interest in the purchase of Qua Steel 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; Mr Lucky Akhiwu, Donn Chuma Maduagwu, Osifo Godwin Osas, Uchenna Standhope Ukaku and Sunny Edah did not endorse it.
Our source who craved anonymity due to tensed security situation at the location tendered documents which provided insight into the crisis.
One of the documents made available to newsmen indicated that the Oil Flow Qua-Steel Partners had due to inability to raise the N200m payment for purchase of Qua-Steel metals, drafted KAM STEEL 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.
The source further hinted that while some of the partners, including, Winifred Akpaka are of the opinion that the purchased obsolete steel must not be sold out to external persons until KAM STEEL, the principal partner exhausts the agreed materials paid for, Lucky Akhiwu on the other hand is allegedly reported to have gone against the agreement by collecting money from other non partners for materials already sold out.
The Project Director, KAM STEEL, Mr Idowu Adeshina when contacted said the contract agreement was breached by Mr Lucky Akhiwu shortly after the site was opened for operations as he had allegedly turned around to sell the metals to others without exhausting what was already paid for.
“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 authorization because we did not fully know them.
“We paid a total sum of N250m, N200m to 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.” He said
When contacted on phone, Mr Lucky Akhiwu who is the Managing Director of Oil-Flow Service Nig. Ltd said “We don’t have any issue and I don’t know how this one 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.
“Those are their internal crisis, it does not affect the community because it has to do with 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.” Jacob said
Winifred Akpaka, the lady reported to have spoken against the breach of contract, when also called on phone declined comment, but however assured that relevant security agencies have been duly notified of the ongoing tension in the company and threats to her life.
