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Tag: Julius Berger

  • Julius Berger harps on quality, local content

    Julius Berger harps on quality, local content

    The construction giant Julius Berger, through its subsidiary, AFP Furniture Production facility,  has assured Nigerians of meeting their needs in the production and delivery of quality furniture works of international standard.

    This was stated by Susan Obi, the Media Relation Officer of the company while speaking to visitors and participants who visited AFP Furniture Production stand at the flagged off of the Lagos Architects Forum, held inside Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, recently.

    “AFP is the furniture production facility of the Julius Berger Plc. We are into production of furniture work for private individual, schools, hotels and multinational corporations. AFP is a production facility of JB that is proudly Nigerian because we depend on local raw materials for the production of our finishing work.

    “We have competent hands and production machinery that can produce customised furniture specification given to us. Our work is not limited to production alone but we produce, deliver and install at any location in Nigeria. The beneficiary of the efforts is not limited to final consumers alone as woods merchants are vital to our production,” he said.

    In Abuja, the company also donated 280 books to the school authority at Government Secondary School, Kubwa, Abuja. Students of the school were also tutored on the art and science of poetry.

    The session on poetry, which was anchored by Dike Chukwumerije, witnessed the reading of works of Nigerian poets, as well as tutorials on how to write their own poems using poetic literary devices. Chukwumerije is the author of eight books and winner of several performance poetry competitions in Nigeria.

    The school’s Vice Principal (Administration), Mr. Sule Momoh Lawal, said Julius Berger has reputation for touching lives across the length and breadth of the country.

    A member of the CSR team, Grace Ayoola, told the gathering that the goal was to create educational progress through the establishment of sustainable programmes and donations.

  • Julius Berger to pay woman damages

    After eight years of litigation,the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri has awarded N603, 180, 560 and 151, 000 Rupees against Julius Berger Nigeria Plc as general and special damages in an appeal and cross appeal instituted by the company against a woman, Philomena Ugo, for medical treatment.

    The award, according to the Presiding Justice Raphael Chikwe Agbo, is in addition to the initial N28, 516, 680 and 108,000 Lakh that had earlier been awarded by a High Court sitting in Owerri as special damages for Mrs. Ugo’s treatment in Nigeria and part of her overseas treatment.

    The case with number CA/OW/146/2010 was filed by a Lagos-based lawyer, Emeka Ozoani, on behalf of the accident victim Ugo.

    Ozoani prayed the court for a declaration that a Julius Berger driver, Godwin Obado’s negligence in driving of a company truck with Registration number XA 493 BWR and fleet number B4690 on December 8, 2006 which colluded his client, Philomena Ugo’s car was unlawful, malicious, reckless and negligent.

    He had also asked for a declaration of the court that Julius Berger is vicariously liable for the reckless, malicious and negligent driving of their truck by Godwin Obado.

    The case started at the Magistrate Court in Onuimo, Imo state, where Godwin Obado was charged and convicted on Wednesday, the  May 21, 2008 on a two count charge of driving without a driver’s license and negligent driving in charge No MCO/64C/2007,

    During the trial, Julius Berger commenced a third party proceeding against their insurer, Equity Assurance Plc which they discontinued abruptly without giving reasons.

    The case later proceeded to the High court in Owerri and it was resolved in favour of Philomena Ugo, Ozoani’s client.

    But dissatisfied with the judgment of the high court and the cost awarded against it, Julius Berger appealed against the lower courts judgment.

    Julius Berger hinged its appeal on the ground that the trial judge misdirected itself in law by wrongly evaluating the evidence before it, by holding that the accident was caused by Julius Berger’s driver, in failing to uphold the defendant’s distinctive evidence  and by awarding money based on receipts bearing Hilltop clinic and relying on evidence of a Dr. Amachi Uchenna Kachi.

    On the other hand, Ozoani , the counsel to Philomena Ugo, predicated his arguments on four points viz evidence of the police witness, sketch map of the accident scene tagged Exhibit ‘A’, state of the pleadings and findings of thetrial court on negligence of Godwin Obado.

    He also filed a cross appeal claiming that the judge erred in law when she failed to make finding on validity or otherwise of Godwin Obado’s driving license and also make award on some exhibits and exemplary damages.

    At the end of the arguments, the Appellate Court Judges that heard the case including Justice Peter Olabisi Ige, Justice Frederick O.Oho and the presiding Judge, Justice Agbo unanimously ruled that some part of Ozoani’s cross appeal succeeds.

    “It seems to have been established by judicial authority that in personal injury cases, two main factors have to be taken into consideration in assessing damages in cases of liability. The Justice of the Appealed Court listed the factors to include financial loss resulting from the injury and the personal injury involving not only pain and suffering but also the loss of pleasures of lif.

    “That precisely is what this court has done in the determination of this case and as a result of which, we have arrived at the following conclusions as it affects the cross appeal. The cross appeal succeeds in part.”

    The court further ordered that N500, 000 be paid as general damages for pain, suffering and loss of expectations, N94, 375, 020 be paid as general damages for ongoing medical treatment, N5,727, 540 for item of special damages for drug purchase, N1, 808,000 and N1,200,000 for expenses incurred on nursing and cab as well as 151, 000 Rupees for purchase of walking aids and other aids in addition to N28, 516, 680 earlier awarded by the lower courts  Local Government elections in Nigeria have always come with its own crisis. This write- up by Lagos lawyer, Akinpelu Ayokunle Oluwatobi is a critique of the current impositions of local government chairmen in Nigeria.

     

  • Shell MD joins Julius Berger’s board

    Shell MD joins Julius Berger’s board

    Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) & Chairman, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu,  has been appointed as a non-executive director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc with effect from January 1, 2015.

    With a BSc. first class in Mathematics & Computer Science in 1977, Mutiu has over 32 years of professional, managerial and leadership experience garnered while working with Shell Petroleum Development Company.

    He started his career as a computer programme and business analyst with Shell Petroleum Development Company (1978 – 83) before becoming a senior EDP Auditor and Project Manager –EMA300 also in the same company (1983 -1989). From 1990 – 1993, he moved to Shell UK Expro, Aberdeen where he became the information planner/portfolio consultant. Other notable positions he occupied while working with Shell Petroleum include- Head IT Infrastructure Services (1993 – 1997), Area Production Manager (1997 – 1999), Asset Manager, Southern Swamp Area – SPDC of Nigeria (1999 -2001), Regional Business Adiver – Shell International, The Huge (2001 -2003), GM Production –Eastern Division – 2003, Director, Corporate Affairs (2005-2006) and Production Director/Managing Director –SPDC (2006 -2008).

  • Julius Berger MD promises continuous growth

    Julius Berger MD promises continuous growth

    The new managing director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Mr. Detlev Lubasch, has assured that he would sustain the construction company’ s growth. Lubasch succeeded Mr. Wolfgang Goetsch on July 1, 2014.

    Lubasch, who has 27 years of experience within Julius Berger in both Nigeria and Germany; said he would dedicate his tenure to continuing the success of Julius Berger.

    He said he would implement initiatives that would ensure a strong continuity in the management as well as ensuring that the company’ corporate values including quality, reliability, sustainability and integrity remain at the heart of Julius Berger’s corporate culture.

    Goetsch had focused his tenure on strengthening Julius Berger’s organizational structures and developing the Julius Berger Group of companies. Goetsch remains an integral part of the company as he will join the executive management of Julius Berger International and continue to serve within the board of directors of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc as a non-executive director.

    Audited report and accounts of Julius Berger for the year ended December 31, 2013 showed that turnover rose marginally from N201.57 billion to N212.74 billion. Profit before tax rose by 31 per cent from N12.34 billion to N16.22 billion. Profit after tax however dropped slightly from N8.19 billion to N8.06 billion. Earnings per share thus stood at N6.72 in 2013 as against N6.83 in 2012.

    The construction company distributed N3.24 billion in cash dividends and 120 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each as bonus shares as returns for the 2013 business year. A breakdown of the dividend indicated that shareholders received a dividend per share of N2.70 and a bonus share of one share for every 10 shares held as at the closure date.

    The company recently added 120 million shares to its outstanding shares following the listing of the bonus shares declared by the board of the company. The listing of the bonus shares increased Julius Berger Nigeria’s total issued shares to 1.32 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

    As part of its strategic positioning, Julius Berger has said it would focus on further diversification of its clients and business segments, improve on business development efforts, sustain due diligence and explore opportunities in alternative financing models to improve on its performance.

  • Julius Berger Nigeria adds 120m shares

    Julius Berger Nigeria adds 120m shares

    Julius Berger Nigeria has added 120 million shares to its outstanding shares following the listing of the bonus shares recently declared by the board of the company.

    The listing of the bonus shares increased Julius Berger Nigeria’s total issued shares to 1.32 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each, totaling N94 billion according to current market consideration.

    The board of director of the construction company has recommended distribution of N3.24 billion in cash dividends and 120 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each as bonus shares as returns for the 2013 business year.

    A breakdown of the dividend recommendation indicated that shareholders would receive a dividend per share of N2.70 and a bonus share of one share for every 10 shares held as at the closure date.

    According to the board, the bonus shares will rank parri passu in all respects with the existing ordinary shares of the company except that such shares shall not qualify for dividend recommended by the Directors in respect of the year ended December 31, 2013.

    As in the case of the dividend, shareholders whose names appear in the register of members as at the close of business on May 30, 2014 will benefit from the bonus issue.

    Audited report and accounts of Julius Berger for the year ended December 31, 2013 showed that turnover rose marginally from N201.57 billion to N212.74 billion. Profit before tax rose by 31 per cent from N12.34 billion to N16.22 billion. Profit after tax however dropped slightly from N8.19 billion to N8.06 billion. Earnings per share thus stood at N6.72 in 2013 as against N6.83 in 2012.

    As part of its strategic positioning, Julius Berger has said it would focus on further diversification of its clients and business segments, improve on business development efforts, sustain due diligence and explore opportunities in alternative financing models to improve on its performance.

    Chairman, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, AVM Nurudeen Imam, outlined that the company would consolidate its performance with continuing diversification of its client and business portfolios from public sector to private sector and across the construction chain with a view to mitigate cluster risk and ensure good spread across the sectors of the economy.

    He said the company would step up its business development efforts by exploring opportunities in alternative financing models including options such as public private partnership (PPP) and build-operate-transfer (BOT).

    According to him, the company would continue to modernise its administrative, engineering and operational departments and implement cost control measures that optimise the functioning of the company.

    “Nigeria retains enormous potential. As Africa’s second largest economy, the rapidly developing nation is a focal point for not only Nigerian, but also international investors interested in the continent. Such investors are looking for a dynamic partner that can deliver superior quality work to global standards and is able to offer customised solutions based on country specific knowhow.  I believe that our business model, operational strategies and company values make us a first-choice contractor for such potential clients,” Imam noted.

    He said Julius Berger would continuously strive to sustain its leadership position in the construction industry through effective risk assessment, proactive management and enhanced productivity year on year.

    Imam assured that the board was fully aware of the need to appoint more Nigerian directors but noted that such appointments would be gradual and based strictly on merit and shareholding structure of the company.

    Providing further insights into the future outlook of the company, managing director, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Engr. Wolfgang Goetsch, said the company would focus on establishing itself as the leading EPC contractor in the power sector noting that the privatisation of the power sector holds immense potential for the Nigerian economy.

    He said the company would establish more strategic locations for its business hubs besides the existing locations in Abuja, Lagos and Uyo.

    Highlighting ongoing contracts and new awards, Goetsch said the company’s contract portfolio shows a robust future outlook stressing the fact that Julius Berger Nigeria remains contractor of choice for key national priority projects as underlined by the award of Lagos-Sagamu Expressway and letter of intent for the second Niger Bridge among other projects.

  • Julius Berger Nigeria dangles 120m shares, N3.24b dividend

    Julius Berger Nigeria dangles 120m shares, N3.24b dividend

    Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) Plc will combine cash and scrip dividends as returns to shareholders for the 2013 business year.

    The board of director of the construction company said it has recommended distribution of N3.24 billion in cash dividends and 120 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each as bonus shares as returns for the 2013 business year.

    A breakdown of the dividend recommendation indicated that shareholders would receive a dividend per share of N2.70 and a bonus share of one share for every 10 shares held as at the closure date.

    According to the board, the bonus shares will rank parri passu in all respects with the existing ordinary shares of the company except that such shares shall not qualify for dividend recommended by the Directors in respect of the year ended December 31, 2013.

    As in the case of the dividend, shareholders whose names appear in the register of members as at the close of business on May 30, 2014 will benefit from the bonus issue.

    Audited report and accounts of Julius Berger for the year ended December 31, 2013 showed that turnover rose marginally from N201.57 billion to N212.74 billion. Profit before tax rose by 31 per cent from N12.34 billion to N16.22 billion. Profit after tax however dropped slightly from N8.19 billion to N8.06 billion. Earnings per share thus stood at N6.72 in 2013 as against N6.83 in 2012.

    As part of its strategic positioning, Julius Berger has said it would focus on further diversification of its clients and business segments, improve on business development efforts, sustain due diligence and explore opportunities in alternative financing models to improve on its performance.

    Chairman, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, AVM Nurudeen Imam, outlined that the company would consolidate its performance with continuing diversification of its client and business portfolios from public sector to private sector and across the construction chain with a view to mitigate cluster risk and ensure good spread across the sectors of the economy.

    He said the company would step up its business development efforts by exploring opportunities in alternative financing models including options such as public private partnership (PPP) and build-operate-transfer (BOT).

    According to him, the company would continue to modernise its administrative, engineering and operational departments and implement cost control measures that optimise the functioning of the company.

    “Nigeria retains enormous potential. As Africa’s second largest economy, the rapidly developing nation is a focal point for not only Nigerian, but also international investors interested in the continent. Such investors are looking for a dynamic partner that can deliver superior quality work to global standards and is able to offer customised solutions based on country specific knowhow.  I believe that our business model, operational strategies and company values make us a first-choice contractor for such potential clients,” Imam noted.

    He said Julius Berger would continuously strive to sustain its leadership position in the construction industry through effective risk assessment, proactive management and enhanced productivity year on year.

    Imam assured that the board was fully aware of the need to appoint more Nigerian directors but noted that such appointments would be gradual and based strictly on merit and shareholding structure of the company.

    Providing further insights into the future outlook of the company, managing director, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Engr. Wolfgang Goetsch, said the company would focus on establishing itself as the leading EPC contractor in the power sector noting that the privatisation of the power sector holds immense potential for the Nigerian economy.

    He said the company would establish more strategic locations for its business hubs besides the existing locations in Abuja, Lagos and Uyo.

  • Airport road: Senate summons FCT minister, Julius Berger

    Airport road: Senate summons FCT minister, Julius Berger

    The Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) summoned yesterday the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed and the firm handling lots one and two of the Airport Road, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.

    The minister and the firm are expected to appear before the committee immediately the upper chamber resumes from its Easter break.

    Committee Chairman Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West) spoke during an oversight visit to the road.

    He said the Senate was worried that despite the huge contract sum, drainage was left open, thereby causing accidents daily.

    The contract, which is categorised into lots 1 and II, costs N49billion and N59.2billion and was awarded in 2009.

    Lot 1 will be completed in December. Lot II, according to the Director, Engineering, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Abu Alfa, is 99.5 per cent complete and will be delivered this month.

    On the open drainage, Alfa said the construction was based on 1991 drawings.

    Adeyemi said even though the quality of work on the road was commendable, the contractor must find means of sealing the drainage.

    The senator added that since the contract sum was huge and contractors used free raw materials; they should bear the extra cost of covering the drainage as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

    Adeyemi said: “There is no city in the world where drainage is left open. Even in many states where you have projects, you are not doing open culverts; so, why in the FCT?

    “This constitutes hazard; it is a death trap and we must sit down and talk on the likely solution.

    “The total cost of construction is high, yet you extracted granite free. You must do something about it.

    “If not, we will use our powers to compel you to do something. It is uncivilised.

    “If this is the road design given to you, as you said it is a 1991 drawing, it is obsolete and must be upgraded.

    “I am not condemning the job; it is not bad. They have done a good job, except for the open drainage.

    “The summons will be around the first week of May. Whatever is to be done on the road must be done before the completion of the project; if not we will withhold your payment.

    “Laterite, granite and water were obtained free. You have not answered our query on these raw materials you took free.

    “If you didn’t pay for granite here, then, you should be able to do something about these open culverts. We had our reservations about the cost but it is now history.”

    The Senate has begun consideration of the report of the Joint Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Finance on a Bill for an Act to establish the FCT Internal Revenue Board.

    The Bill seeks, among others, to set up the FCT Internal Revenue Board for the collection and administration of revenue generated within Abuja.

  • Julius Berger to pay $32m to US for corruption in Nigeria

    Julius Berger to pay $32m to US for corruption in Nigeria

    Bilfinger SE, the German parent company of the construction company, Julius Berger, has reached a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to pay $32 million as fine for involvement in corruption in Nigeria.

    The company was said to have given bribes totalling $6 million to Nigerian government officials for the purpose of obtaining and retaining contracts for the $387 million Eastern Gas Gathering System (EGGS) project.

    The US Justice Department said that the bribes were delivered between 2003 and June 2005 by Bilfinger in connivance with Willbros Group Inc. and others.

    Bilfinger and Willbros are accused of having formed a joint venture to bid on the EGGS project and inflated the price of the joint venture’s bid by 3% to cover the cost of paying the bribes.

    “At another point in the conspiracy, when Willbros employees encountered difficulty obtaining enough money to make their share of the bribe payments, Bilfinger loaned them $1 million,” the US Justice Department said.

    Bilfinger pledged to implement rigorous internal controls, continue cooperating fully with the Justice Department, and retain an independent corporate compliance monitor for at least 18 months under the 3-year deferred agreement.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Bilfinger SE, Roland Koch, said: “We are pleased that we have now been able to put these events from the distant past behind us. In recent years, Bilfinger has consistently expanded its compliance instruments and today has a modern and efficient system.”

    The Department of Justice in its statement “acknowledged Bilfinger’s cooperation and its remediation efforts.”

    In a separate statement, Bilfinger SE said it had significantly reduced its investments in Julius Berger Nigeria PLC (JBN) in 2012, in tandem with the scope of its strategic alignment toward engineering and services. Already the company has reduced its stake in the Nigerian business from 49% to approximately 33%.

  • FBN Holdings, UBA, Julius Berger, others win laurels at PEARL awards

    FBN Holdings Plc, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc were honoured for their outstanding leadership in their various sectors at the PEARL Awards.

    The PEARL Awards celebrates corporate excellence and recognizes quoted companies who have been exceptional in terms of performance and adherence to good corporate governance.

    FBN Holdings emerged as the sectoral leader in the Other Financial Institutions category. UBA emerged as the leader in banking subsector while Julius Berger was adjudged the sectoral leader for the construction industry.

    PEARL Awards applies several well-known and generally accepted indices as parameters to assess companies including turnover growth, return on equity, earnings yield, share price appreciation, dividend cover, dividend yield, net asset ratio, dividend growth and profit margin ratio.

    Speaking on the company’s award, Chief Executive Officer, FBN Holdings Plc, Bello Maccido said it reinforced the leading role of the FBN Group in the sector barely one year after it adopted the holding company structure.

    FBN Holdings Plc was incorporated in Nigeria on October 14, 2010, following the business reorganisation of the FirstBank group into a holding company structure.

    The group’s subsidiaries include First Bank of Nigeria Limited, FBN Capital Limited, FBN Life Assurance Limited and FBN Micro finance.

    “We are delighted at being recognised for excellence and remain committed to providing superior financial solutions to our customers across the entire value chain and growing our different business lines by realising the synergies and cross-selling opportunities that exist across the Group,” Maccido said.

    Other sectoral leadership winners include UAC of Nigeria, conglomerates; Nigerian Breweries, breweries; National Salt Company of Nigeria (Nascon), food products and beverages; AIICO, insurance; GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria, healthcare; Dangote Cement, industrial goods and Total Nigeria, which was adjudged the best in the oil and gas sector.

    PEARL bases its rankings from data sourced from the annual reports of quoted companies duly filed with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Stock Exchange Daily Official list for the year under consideration.

    The report of the research and collation sub-committee is usually reviewed, verified and thereafter endorsed by the board’s technical committee, which subsequently presents it to the full board for consideration and approval.

    The awards are in three categories – the sectoral leadership awards, market excellence awards, and overall highest award category, otherwise known as the PEARL of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

     

  • Julius Berger loses bid to withdraw suit against ex- workers

    Construction giant, Julius Berger Plc has lost its bid to withdraw the suit it filed against some of its former workers.

    Magistrate Igboi Anthony of an Abuja  Magistrate’s court struck out an application by the company for want of merit.

    The magistrate held that since his court did not inherit the substantive case  instituted by Julius Berger in 1999, he could not be called upon to sanction the plaintiff’s desire to withdraw it.

    “The case is not before me. I did not inherit the case. So, this application is in the wrong place. It is like a prayer brought before a cripple to help push an abandoned car. You will be mocking the cripple.

    “The application is infected with disease more dangerous than HIV/AIDS which I have no cure for. So, it is accordingly struck out,”Magistrate Anthony held.

    Julius Berger had filed the suit in its effort to eject about 7200 sacked workers from the official quarters earlier allocated to them. Th e company placed them on “redundancy” since 1999.

    On March 13, 2000, Julius Berger filed the suit against Akpan Dominic and 213 others, praying for among others, an order ejecting the defendants from the houses scattered in Kubwa, Gwarimpa and Mpape.

    The defendants challenged the court’s jurisdiction before an Abuja High Court, which held that the Magistrates’ court possesses the jurisdiction to hear the suit.

    Dissatisfied, the workers went to the Court of Appeal, Abuja. They also filed a motion for stay of proceedings and motion to file the appellant’s brief out of time.

    The appellate court, in a ruling, granted the motion for stay of further hearing at the Magistrate’s court pending the determination of the substantive appeal.

    Faced by this development, Julius Berger returned to the Magistrates’ court, with the application to withdraw the substantive suit, an application Magistrate Anthony struck out.

    Reacting to the magistrate’s decision,

    Lawyer to Julius Berger, Kennedy Aireruor said, “the matter was assigned by the Chief Magistrate of the court.  So, it was his duty to hear it, but since he said he doesn’t have the file and the file cannot be found, we will go back to the Chief Judge that the necessary action should be taken.

    The worker’s lawyer, Emmanuel Esike said “the judgement was fantastic, so we thank God for using the judge. The judiciary has renewed the hope of last the man, the hope of the hopeless today.

    “It then means the prayers of the workers of Julius Berger since 1999 till date has never been in vain”, Esike said.