Court voids Buhari’s directive, orders reinstatement of Ifeanyi Araraume as NNPC board chairman

A federal high court in the federal capital territory (FCT), on Tuesday, April 18, ordered the reinstatement of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume as non-executive chairman of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, while delivering judgment criticized the process of Araraume’s removal by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He stated that all decisions taken by the newly constituted board to date are null and void.

Justice Ekwo awarded N5 million as damages in favour of the former senator representing Imo north.

Recall that Araraume, in 2022, dragged President Muhammadu Buhari to court for illegally removing him as board chairman of NNPC in January 2022.

Buhari appointed Margaret Chuba Okadigbo, widow of Chuba Okadigbo, a former senate president, to replace him.

Some of the reliefs sought by the former senator in the suit include, “A declaration of this honourable court that by the provisions of section 63 (3) of the petroleum industry act, 2021, the first defendant cannot lawfully remove the plaintiff as the non-executive chairman of the second defendant for any reason(s) whatsoever outside the conditions specifically listed in the said section 63(3) of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.

“An order of this honourable court setting aside the removal of the plaintiff as the non-executive chairman of the second defendant vide the first defendant’s letter dated January 17, 2022, with reference number SGF 3/VIII/86.

“An order of this honourable court reinstating the plaintiff forthwith and restoring him to his office with all the appurtenant rights and privileges of his office as the non-executive chairman of the second defendant.”

Source: TheStreetJournal | Read More