Court Fixes October 22 for Nigerian Army, Boat Owners’ Settlement Report

Court Fixes October 22 for Nigerian Army,  Boat Owners’ Settlement Report

The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has fixed October 22, 2026, to receive report on settlement in a case between three indigenous companies versus the Attorney General of the Federation, Chief of Defence Staff and others.

In Suit No: FHC/PH/CS/115/2025, the plaintiffs,  Peaches Integrated Services Limited, Godswm Industrial Services Limited and Etucok Integrated Services  dragged the Attorney General of the Federation; the Chief of Defence Staff; and the Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe, to court over 26 months unpaid services.

The plaintiffs, who are house boat contractors, alleged  the Nigerian Army owed the unpaid rental services which have lingered for too long.

The three firms asked the court to prevail on the defendants to pay the 26 months rent  accruing from the houseboats and their release for maintenance.

When the matter came up on Monday, September 14, the counsel representing the plaintiffs, Mr. Rueben Wanogho, informed the court that the third defendant, Commander, Joint Task Force had requested a proposal for an amicable settlement.

He, however, urged the court to grant the parties time to that effect.

Based on the development, the judge, Hon. Justice Stephen Daylop Pam, adjourned till October 22 for the parties to return to court to brief on the outcome of the proposed settlement.

Meanwhile, counsel for the first defendant, I. K. Diri, declined knowledge of the proposed settlement.

Recently,  workers in the affected firms, protested in Port Harcourt, lamenting dislocations in their homes as a result of owed salaries by their employers,  due to the unpaid rent allegedly by the Nigerian Army for hired boats.

They enjoined President Bola Tinubu to direct the Army to clear the debt.

The house boat contractors in the Niger Delta also appealed to the President to step in for the bills to be cleared and their boats released.