By Comfort Olayinka
In what can be described as an arrant disregard for the Nigerian Parliament, a global shipping powerhouse, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has once again refused to honour an invitation to appear before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions.
After failing to honour the previous invitations to attend the public petition hearing, the Committee rescheduled the session for Wednesday 2nd July, 2025, and ordered a mandatory appearance following continued disregard for Parliamentary summons.
Recall that on Tuesday 18th June, 2025, a civic group, under the banner of the Citizens WhistleBlowers Coalition (CWC) had submitted a formal petition before the House of Representatives against MSC, alleging massive financial misconduct, regulatory violations, and deliberate subversion of Nigeria’s legal authority.
In the petition, the civil group urged the lower legislative arm to launch a full-scale investigation into MSC’s operations, describing the company’s actions as a “direct threat to fair business practices and national sovereignty.”
The group’s spokesperson, Mr Karl Chinedu hinted that the petition centers on three damning accusations, which includes, illegal and arbitrary shipping charges; ₦3 trillion container deposit scandal and evasion of Nigerian jurisdiction.
Our Correspondent gathered that despite being summoned by the Committee for a public petition hearing session, the shipping powerhouse has so far declined to appear or issue a formal response.
However, at the resumed hearing on Wednesday 2nd July, 2025, MSC again showed its stark disregard for the Nigerian parliament as it refused to appear before the Committee despite ordering a mandatory appearance.
Irked by this development, the Committee’s chairman, Hon. Michael Etaba,
condemned in totality MSC’s disregard for the Parliament, stressing that the Committee has the constitutional power to compel any organisation or individual to appear before it.
Giving the shipping powerhouse 31st July, 2025 to appear, the Committee threatened to invoke its constitutional power on MSC should it fail again to appear on the said date.
The Committee vowed to unearth the alleged illegal detention of shipment, extortion, unfair practices, tax evasion by foreign companies in Nigeria.
Addressing Journalists after the session, CWC’s lead counsel, Barr. Uzoma Abonta, emphasized the need for the foreign companies operating in Nigeria to abide by the country’s laws and orders.
Lamenting the level of impunity being displayed by foreigners, Barr. Abonta urged the authorities to as a matter of urgency take appropriate actions in addressing the unlawful acts.
“The marine sector is a very important sector, and has to be protected for the interest of the public. This company (MSC) has ignored invitations two consecutive times by the Committee. What we want is for them to come here and defend themselves”, he concluded.
