Oil and Gas company, Springfield Ashburton Limited has again
debunked reports circulating in the media, particularly controversial website,
Sahara Reporters, linking its MD/CEO, Mr. Kevin Okyere, to corruption in
Nigeria’s oil sector under former Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Deziani
Alison-Madueke.
debunked reports circulating in the media, particularly controversial website,
Sahara Reporters, linking its MD/CEO, Mr. Kevin Okyere, to corruption in
Nigeria’s oil sector under former Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Deziani
Alison-Madueke.
In a rejoinder to online publication Sahara Reporters’ story
of 14th October 2015 titled “Ghanaian Oil Tycoon Kevin Okyere Bought A £4.5m
London Mansion In 2014 Tied To Diezani’s Looting”, which the website has deliberately
not published for obvious cynical reasons after a poor attempt to link Mr.
Okyere’s purchase of a London home to proceeds from graft amongst several other
claims, Springfield described the entire publication as “full of lies,
half-truths and innuendos and calculated attempt to injure the reputation of
our company and it’s Managing Director.”
of 14th October 2015 titled “Ghanaian Oil Tycoon Kevin Okyere Bought A £4.5m
London Mansion In 2014 Tied To Diezani’s Looting”, which the website has deliberately
not published for obvious cynical reasons after a poor attempt to link Mr.
Okyere’s purchase of a London home to proceeds from graft amongst several other
claims, Springfield described the entire publication as “full of lies,
half-truths and innuendos and calculated attempt to injure the reputation of
our company and it’s Managing Director.”
Springfield further warned that “Any attempt to tarnish our
image with baseless allegations shall be met with appropriate legal action. Our
company will not hesitate to use every legal means to protect our interests as
we owe that much to our business partners, stakeholders and the general
public.”
image with baseless allegations shall be met with appropriate legal action. Our
company will not hesitate to use every legal means to protect our interests as
we owe that much to our business partners, stakeholders and the general
public.”
The company further clarifies its position saying:
“The house in question was paid for in March 2014 and the
sale closed in May 2014. The first
contract awarded to our company was in May 2014, however, we received our first
crude oil lifting in June 2014, which we got paid for in July 2014. We fail to see how a property paid for in
March 2014 provides a connection to an oil contract awarded in May 2014.
sale closed in May 2014. The first
contract awarded to our company was in May 2014, however, we received our first
crude oil lifting in June 2014, which we got paid for in July 2014. We fail to see how a property paid for in
March 2014 provides a connection to an oil contract awarded in May 2014.
All allegations against Melanie are baseless. Melanie Spencer has not been implicated in
any investigation and has absolutely nothing to do with the Minister or any of
her dealings. It is only logical that Melanie’s address is at Kevin Okyere’s
property given the fact that she is his wife. As stated above, there is no
connection between Kevin Okyere’s property and Mrs. Alison Madueke.
any investigation and has absolutely nothing to do with the Minister or any of
her dealings. It is only logical that Melanie’s address is at Kevin Okyere’s
property given the fact that she is his wife. As stated above, there is no
connection between Kevin Okyere’s property and Mrs. Alison Madueke.
It is spurious to imagine that a bank of Standard Bank’s
quality will lend itself to a “highly suspicious” transaction. The loan in
question was obtained and processed through all appropriate official channels
and is backed with proper documentation.
quality will lend itself to a “highly suspicious” transaction. The loan in
question was obtained and processed through all appropriate official channels
and is backed with proper documentation.
The Federal Minister did have a Senior Special Assistant
named Kevin, a Kevin Allanso NOT Kevin Okyere. Mr Okyere is a Ghanaian and it
is preposterous to imagine that he will be appointed Personal Assistant to the
Federal Minister of Petroleum in Nigeria. Kevin Okyere is not and has never
been Mrs. Madueke’s personal assistant and has never been employed by the NNPC
or any other Government institution in the world.
named Kevin, a Kevin Allanso NOT Kevin Okyere. Mr Okyere is a Ghanaian and it
is preposterous to imagine that he will be appointed Personal Assistant to the
Federal Minister of Petroleum in Nigeria. Kevin Okyere is not and has never
been Mrs. Madueke’s personal assistant and has never been employed by the NNPC
or any other Government institution in the world.
Furthermore, Mr. Okyere is the founder, Chairman and CEO of
his self-owned group of companies. As a business man running his own business
it is unfathomable how he would successfully run a multinational business while
doubling as a Personal Assistant at the same time.
his self-owned group of companies. As a business man running his own business
it is unfathomable how he would successfully run a multinational business while
doubling as a Personal Assistant at the same time.
It is a shame that in their bid to sensationalize and smear
the good name of a hardworking entrepreneur, Sahara Reporters threw all the
professional ethics of journalism to the wind and failed to investigate and
check all their facts before publishing.
the good name of a hardworking entrepreneur, Sahara Reporters threw all the
professional ethics of journalism to the wind and failed to investigate and
check all their facts before publishing.
The claim of the award of a $40billion annual contract to
Springfield is totally ridiculous. The company has never received that amount.
One only has to think of what the total value of annual crude oil lifting
contracts in Nigeria is (about $60billion) to realize that this claim is
utterly baseless.
Springfield is totally ridiculous. The company has never received that amount.
One only has to think of what the total value of annual crude oil lifting
contracts in Nigeria is (about $60billion) to realize that this claim is
utterly baseless.
The only contracts which the Company has partaken in from
the NNPC is NNPC’s crude oil lifting contract which was awarded to it alongside
26 other companies and a condensate contract for EGP3 out of which only 4
cargos have been lifted to date and an LPG contract, from which no cargos were
ever lifted. There was absolutely nothing untoward about the award of these
contract as due process was followed to the letter. Springfield is not and has
never been involved in crude oil swaps or subsidy contracts.
the NNPC is NNPC’s crude oil lifting contract which was awarded to it alongside
26 other companies and a condensate contract for EGP3 out of which only 4
cargos have been lifted to date and an LPG contract, from which no cargos were
ever lifted. There was absolutely nothing untoward about the award of these
contract as due process was followed to the letter. Springfield is not and has
never been involved in crude oil swaps or subsidy contracts.
There was absolutely nothing untoward in the award of the
oil lifting contracts to our company. Springfield has been in business since
2008 in Ghana giving it considerable expertise in the oil business. It is usual
to take into account the expertise of the Group Company when awarding a
contract to the National subsidiary. Thus, Springfield’s track record in Ghana
was taken into account prior to the award of the contract and it wasn’t
considered a “mere two years after incorporation” as Sahara mockingly couched
it.
oil lifting contracts to our company. Springfield has been in business since
2008 in Ghana giving it considerable expertise in the oil business. It is usual
to take into account the expertise of the Group Company when awarding a
contract to the National subsidiary. Thus, Springfield’s track record in Ghana
was taken into account prior to the award of the contract and it wasn’t
considered a “mere two years after incorporation” as Sahara mockingly couched
it.
It took Springfield two whole years to get awarded the oil
lifting contract after a failed attempt.
The final award was on merit due to a strategic partnership with
BP. Springfield’s track record speaks
for itself as it has not been involved in any oil swap contract or participated
in the oil subsidy, areas which have caused a lot of controversy in the
industry. All Springfield’s contracts with NNPC have been discharged diligently
and we are not indebted to any of our trading partners or banks.
lifting contract after a failed attempt.
The final award was on merit due to a strategic partnership with
BP. Springfield’s track record speaks
for itself as it has not been involved in any oil swap contract or participated
in the oil subsidy, areas which have caused a lot of controversy in the
industry. All Springfield’s contracts with NNPC have been discharged diligently
and we are not indebted to any of our trading partners or banks.
Dissolution of the company in the UK was a routine business
decision with no connections to the elections. The company decided that it did
not make business sense to keep on incurring the expensive costs of running an
office in London when the Company had little or no operations in London. Maria Luisa left the company to move on to
other projects because we decided to dissolve the company.
decision with no connections to the elections. The company decided that it did
not make business sense to keep on incurring the expensive costs of running an
office in London when the Company had little or no operations in London. Maria Luisa left the company to move on to
other projects because we decided to dissolve the company.
Melanie Spencer has never been arrested by the UK National
Crime Agency and we have not been notified by the UK National Crime Agency of
any investigation of Melanie Spencer.
Crime Agency and we have not been notified by the UK National Crime Agency of
any investigation of Melanie Spencer.
It is a totally ridiculous suggestion that Mr. Okyere is the
“pocket” of anyone. Mr. Okyere has never been “the pocket” for anyone including
Mrs. Alison-Madueke or Nana Akufo Addo.
“pocket” of anyone. Mr. Okyere has never been “the pocket” for anyone including
Mrs. Alison-Madueke or Nana Akufo Addo.
It is indeed right that Mr. Kevin Okyere has sued these
publications (The New Statesman: $7.5million, Alhaj Alhaj, Herald & The
Republic: $3.7 million each)for printing outright lies and fabrications.
Springfield Ashburton Limited and Mr. Kevin Okyere are law abiding citizens and
will explore all legal avenues to right a wrong that has been done to them.
publications (The New Statesman: $7.5million, Alhaj Alhaj, Herald & The
Republic: $3.7 million each)for printing outright lies and fabrications.
Springfield Ashburton Limited and Mr. Kevin Okyere are law abiding citizens and
will explore all legal avenues to right a wrong that has been done to them.
On 16th October 2015, the New Statesman published a full
retraction of its earlier misleading reports and acknowledged that “it had no
evidence that Springfield’s dealings with NNPC were not legitimately secured.”
retraction of its earlier misleading reports and acknowledged that “it had no
evidence that Springfield’s dealings with NNPC were not legitimately secured.”
As has been stated above, our Company started business in
2008, long before Mrs. Alison-Madueke became minister. The claims in the media
that our company’s success is tied to a supposed “connection” to Mrs.
Alison-Madueke are preposterous. We have worked painstakingly over the years to
build our reputation as a credible and worthy player in the oil and gas
industry, and indeed we have come very far as an indigenous African company.
Any attempt to tarnish our image with baseless allegations shall be met with
appropriate legal action. Our company will not hesitate to use every legal
means to protect our interests as we owe that much to our business partners,
stakeholders and the general public.”
2008, long before Mrs. Alison-Madueke became minister. The claims in the media
that our company’s success is tied to a supposed “connection” to Mrs.
Alison-Madueke are preposterous. We have worked painstakingly over the years to
build our reputation as a credible and worthy player in the oil and gas
industry, and indeed we have come very far as an indigenous African company.
Any attempt to tarnish our image with baseless allegations shall be met with
appropriate legal action. Our company will not hesitate to use every legal
means to protect our interests as we owe that much to our business partners,
stakeholders and the general public.”
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