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By Lukman Olabiyi
Taurus Oil & Gas Limited has strongly denied any involvement in the recent Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) contamination incident at the Koko storage facility.
It asserted that the ongoing investigations and legal proceedings have not established any wrongdoing on its part.
In a statement released by the company’s legal counsel, Alex Chisom Nwankwo, Taurus said it was aware of media reports misrepresenting its’ role in the incident and clarified that it is currently in court seeking to clear its name.
“Taurus is presently before the courts seeking justice and the opportunity to fully exonerate its name. Out of respect for the judicial process, we will not delve into the merits of the case at this time,” Nwankwo said.
Emphasizing the company’s clean track record, Nwankwo noted that Taurus has operated for over 15 years in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, offering storage and throughput services while maintaining a reputation for professionalism, transparency, and strict regulatory compliance.
According to the statement, the PMS contamination incident occurred on January 17, 2024, when a vessel deployed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to deliver product to the Koko facility allegedly discharged ocean water into one of Taurus’s storage tanks,Tank No. 6 rather than PMS.
Nwankwo stated that Taurus acted swiftly upon detecting the anomaly. The company reportedly alerted NNPC Retail (the product owner), notified the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and commissioned independent inspections by internationally recognized agencies.
“We were among the first operators to escalate irregularities we observed to regulators and security agencies, and we have continued to provide intelligence and cooperation that have helped shape ongoing investigations,” Nwankwo said.
He further explained that Taurus was only providing handling and storage services under a throughput agreement, which meant the ownership and delivery logistics of the petroleum products were fully controlled by the client. As such, Taurus had no operational involvement with the vessel or its discharge activities.
Legal action has also been taken. Following an application by Taurus, the Federal High Court granted an arrest order for the vessel involved, a decision that remains in force, signaling the company’s commitment to seeking justice and protecting its clients’ interests.
Nwankwo added that multiple investigations by both regulatory and security agencies have not produced any evidence implicating Taurus in the contamination.
“Investigations by the authorities have not indicated or established any prima facie case against Taurus. In fact, the available evidence consistently points
away from our operations and infrastructure, confirming that the anomaly did not originate from Taurus,” he said.
Nwankwo added that Taurus has continued to cooperate fully with the agencies involved and remains
confident that the judicial process will further vindicate its position.
Nwankwo further highlighted that since the incident, Taurus has continued its operations without
disruption, thereby maintaining the trust of its clients and partners.
He explained that the company
enjoys a strong working relationship with regulatory and oversight bodies, built on years of
compliance, transparency, and adherence to both Nigerian and international petroleum handling
standards.
