A Federal High Court in Abuja has awarded the sum of N5 billion to Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as damages for his removal as the Chairman of the Board of Nigeria National Petroleum Company, Ltd.
Delivering judgment on the matter brought by the former Senator, Justice Inyang Ekwo said President Muhammadu Buhari illegally removed Ararume from the position.
Ararume had dragged the President to Court in November, 2022, after he was removed barely few weeks after his appointment into the Board, and on the eve of his inauguration. The Company is a Government- controlled Oil Company Ltd.
In the suit, the Senator also demanded the sum of N100 billon as compensation for his wrongful removal as the non- Executive Chairman of the Company.
He wanted the court to determine whether, in view of the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the NNPC, Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2010, and the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 (PIA), the office of the non-Executive Chairman was not governed and regulated by the stated provisions of the law.
Ararume also prayed the court to determine whether by the interpretation of section 63 (3) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the President can lawfully remove him as non-Executive Chairman of the NNPC for a reason outside the provisions of the law.
He prayed the court to also determine whether Buhari could sack him without compliance with expressly stated provisions of the Articles of Memorandum of Association of the Company, section 63 (3) of the PIA Act, 2021 and section 288 of the CAMA Act, 2020.
He urged the court for “A declaration that by the provisions of section 63 (3) of the PIA Act, CAMA Act and Memorandum of Association of the NNPC, the President cannot by will remove him from office as non-Executive Chairman without following due process of the law.”
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/691/2022 was instituted on his behalf by a group of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) comprising Chief Chris Uche, Ahmed Raji, Mahmud Magaji, Ogwu James Onoja, K.C Nwufor and Gordy Uche.
he president to court last November after he was removed barely few weeks after his appointment into the board of the government -controlled oil corporation.
In the suit, the senator also demanded N100 billon axe compensation for wrongful removal as non- executive chairman of the company.
He wanted the court to determije whether in view of the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the NNPC, Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2010 and the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 (PIA), the office of the non-executive Chairman was not governed and regulated by the stated provisions of the law.
Ararume also prayed the court to determine whether by the interpretation of section 63 (3) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the President can lawfully remove him as non-executive Chairman of the NNPC for anh reason outside the provisions of the law.
He prayed the court to also determine whether Buhari could sack him without compliance with expressly stated provisions of the Articles of Memorandum of Association of the Company, section 63 (3) of the PIA Act, 2021 and section 288 of the CAMA Act, 2020.
He urged the court for “A declaration that by the provisions of section 63 (3) of the PIA Act, CAMA Act and Memorandum of Association of the NNPC, the President cannot by will remove him from office as non-executive Chairman without following due process of the law.”
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/691/2022 was instituted on his behalf by a group of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) comprising Chief Chris Uche, Ahmed Raji, Mahmud Magaji, Ogwu James Onoja, K.C Nwufor and Gordy Uche.
