Your Consent

Your Consent

[info-llhm]

Greetings,

My name is Dr. Innocent Bariate Barikor, Director-General of the 
National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement 
Agency Nigeria - (NESREA).

As part of my official responsibilities, I monitor environmental 
compliance and pollution associated with oil and gas exploration, 
drilling, and production activities in the Niger Delta and 
submits relevant findings to the Presidency.

In the course of carrying out these responsibilities, my 
investigations identified significant environmental compliance 
concerns involving four major oil-producing companies:

1.      Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited

2.      Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited / Esso Exploration & 
Production Nigeria Limited

3.      Chevron Nigeria Limited / Texaco Overseas

4.      Elf Petroleum Limited / Total Exploration Limited.

The four companies were subsequently assessed penalties of 
US$1.2Billion, with the applicable sanctions providing for the 
potential revocation of their operating licenses in the event of 
non-compliance. Given the importance of their operating licenses 
to their continued activities in Nigeria, the four companies 
appealed for a reduction or waiver of the assessed penalties. 
Their requests were subsequently considered by the Federal 
Government, and the applicable fines were reduced to US$800 
Million.

The companies have since settled the revised penalties with the 
Ministry of Environment. They have also indicated their intention 
to provide a US$50,000,000.00 payment in recognition of my role 
in the process. However, as a senior public official, I am 
subject to the applicable Code of Conduct and therefore cannot 
maintain or operate a foreign bank account for the receipt of 
such funds. Consequently, I am unable to provide a foreign 
account for this purpose. In view of the foregoing, I am unable 
to personally receive or facilitate the transfer of any such 
payment because of the restrictions applicable to my position as 
a public official.

I therefore seek your assistance in identifying a resourceful and 
transparent mechanism through which the matter in relation to the 
gratification can be addressed without any traces to me 
considering the fact that I am still in active service. Any 
proposed arrangement should be properly documented and, where 
required, discussed with a financial facilitator locally without 
mentioning names; so that all parties are adequately protected 
and the transaction is handled through the proper channels.

I would appreciate your guidance and cooperation in resolving 
this matter in a manner that is fully compliant with existing 
financial regulations.

Best regards,

Dr. Innocent Bariate Barikor
Director General
NESREA.
Direct Phone/Whatsapp: +2349019779152