Delta State High Court sitting at Orerokpe, headquarters of Okpe council area of the state on Wednesday issued an order of interlocutory injunction restraining Opeans Nigeria Limited from further conducting the Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET) and issuing such certificates to trainees.
Presiding judge, Justice Joe Egwu, in the ruling also ordered the closure of the training centers owned or operated by the company.
The safety and proficiency of individuals operating in offshore environments within the Oil and Gas industry is heavily reliant on the BOSIET certification.
American Petroleum Institute (API) through its legal team from Banwo & Ighodalo law firm had in the suit number HOR/9/2023 dragged the defendants; Opeans Nigeria Limited, and the Attorney-General of Delta State to court that Opeans Nigeria Limited is in no way affiliated to API.
The defendants are facing legal action due to allegations of issuing counterfeit API and Veriforce BOSIET certificates that have not been approved by the respective institutes even as the company had falsely asserted that their training programs and certificates are accredited by API and Veriforce.
API, a renowned authority in the oil and gas sector, has firmly refuted any approval or accreditation granted to Opeans Nigeria Limited for conducting the BOSIET certification and issuing related certificates.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Barr. Joseph Omonoseh, while speaking to journalists after the court’s ruling, said it was crucial for individuals who have been issued API or Veriforce certificates by Opeans Nigeria Limited to understand their rights and consider taking legal action against the company .
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