The Akwa Ibom State Government has dragged ExxonMobil to court for attempting to sell some of its assets without its consent.

The government described the action of the company as irresponsible for not informing it as a partner of their intention to carry out such major activity on the shared assets.

According to Vanguard, ExxonMobil had recently informed the general public that it had reached an agreement to sell its equity interest in Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited to Seplat Energy, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Seplat Energy Offshore Limited.

However, Vanguard reports further that Akwa Ibom State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Essien Udom, SAN, said that the state government had filed a suit in court to prevent Mobil from proceeding with the sales of the assets.

Udom was quoted to have said: “Mobil has not formerly informed the state government that they are selling off and leaving. Everything we heard was from the media, which is most irresponsible for any corporate citizen. There has been no direct contact with us.

“That’s an action that may frustrate the outcome of a pending court case. Akwa Ibom State government had to enter a court case restraining Mobil from continuing with the proposed sale of its assets and that’s because there is a pending litigation between Mobil and the government of Akwa Ibom State.

“The attempt to sell its asset, some of which may include assets belonging to Akwa Ibom State, is rather upsetting. Mobil has been in Akwa Ibom State for several years and the relationship has been very good until recently.

“The fact that they’ll attempt to sell in a surreptitious manner without any discussion with the government of Akwa Ibom State is very distressing and not to be expected from a responsible corporate citizen”.