Court restores Ararume as NNPCL Chair, awards N5b against the President, NNPCL

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja, has restored Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Ararume as non Executive Chairman of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL .
By the judgement, the court voided Ararume’s sack and set aside his removal by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Justice Ekwo, in his judgement, held that the action of the President on January 17, 2023, was arbitrary, unlawful and illegal.
According to the court, Buhari acted ultra vires, wrongful, illegal, null and void in the ways and manners Ararume was sacked after using his name to register NNPCL and that such brazen act cannot stand in the face of the law.
Consequently, the court awarded N5Bilion against Buhari and NNPCL to be paid to Ararume as damages for the wrongful sack and disruption of his appointment.
Therefore, the court ordered that Ararume be immediately restored to office as non Executive Chairman of the NNPCL.
The Judge also declared as null and void all decisions of the Board of Directors of the NNPCL carried out in the absence of Ararume.
Recall that, Ararume had dragged Buhari before the Court praying it to declare his removal as NNPC Chief illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional and that it is a total breach of CAMA law under which NNPCL was incorporated.
He also, wants the court to issue an order to return him to office, Ararume also demanded N100 billion as compensation for the damages he suffered nationally and internationally in the unlawful way and manner his removal was carried out by President Buhari.