NATION

Court reverses Ararume’s sack, awards N5bn compensation

A federal high court, in Abuja, has reinstated Ifeanyi Ararume as chairman of the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC).

The trial judge, Iyang Ekwo, also him N5 billion in compensation. Ararume had told the court that his removal was wrongfully done and contravened provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters (CAMA), 2020, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021, and the company’s memorandum and articles of association. He therefore sought to be reinstated to his position and to be paid N100billion in compensation.

Objecting Ararume, counsels to President Muhammadu Buhari stated that the suit was statue-barred. The defendant also argued that the suit was an abuse of processes, therefore robbing the court of jurisdiction to hear the case.  However, Justice Ekwo dismissed the defendant’s argument. In addition to reinstating Ararume, Ekwo equally nullified all decisions taken during his removal.

President Muhammadu Buhari had, in January, replaced Araume with Margaret Chuba Okadigbo as the chairman of the NNPC board. Margret is the wife of former senate president Chuba Okadigbo.

 

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button