“It’s Null, Void”: Buhari to Pay N5bn to Ifeanyi Ararume as Court Overturns His Removal as NNPC Chairman
- The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the removal of Ifeanyi Ararume as NNPC Non-Executive Chairman by President Muhammadu Buhari
- The Court stated that the sacking was illegal and unconstitutional and demanded that Ararume be paid N5bn in damages
- The court also ordered the reinstatement of Ararume as the NNPC Non-Executive Chairman
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The Federal High Court in Abuja has overturned the removal of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The court also awarded N5 billion in damages against the Federal Government.
Source: Facebook
Justice Inyang Ekwo delivered the judgment on Tuesday, 18 April 2023, stating that Buhari's removal of Ararume was illegal, unconstitutional, and null and void.
The court also instructed Ararume to be restored as the Non- Executive Chairman of the national oil company with full benefits.
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How it all started
Ararume took legal action against the Federal Government, seeking redress from the court, stating that his dismissal as the NNPC board chairman was against the law, unjust and unconstitutional.
He argued his expulsion, through a letter dated January 17, 2022, with reference number SGF. 3V111/86, violated the CAMA statute, which established NNPCL.
Ararume also requested the court to reinstate him and award him N100 billion as compensation for the losses he incurred due to the wrongful termination.
Background of Ararume's NNPC journey
In September 2021, President Buhari appointed Ararume as the non-executive chairman of NNPC Limited for a five-year term.
The appointment took effect on 21 September 2021, the date NNPC Limited was incorporated as a private company limited by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), following the unbundling of the national oil company as a result of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
The board was scheduled to be inaugurated on 24 November 2021, but he was suspended indefinitely without reason.
On 5 January, a new announcement was made for the NNPC Limited’s board, revealing that Ararume’s name had been replaced, still without any reason being given.
Unhappy, he filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja on 12 September 2022, seeking a declaration that Buhari lacked the power to remove him from office for any reason outside the conditions specifically listed in the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021.
Ararume said his removal from the position of non-executive chairman of the company came to him as a surprise, as he had assumed duty on 12 November 2021 and attended the 23rd World Petroleum Congress in Houston, Texas.
He also argued that his removal by President Buhari was wrongful and violated various provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters (CAMA), 2020, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021, and the company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association.
NNPC, NMDPRA speak on staff recruitment exercise reports, warn Nigerians
Meanwhile, in another report, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has said reports that it is recruiting are fake and should be ignored by Nigerians.
The national oil company revealed that announcement of any recruitment would be made through the proper channels.
Similarly, the NMDPRA has also issued a warning to Nigerians that there is no ongoing recruitment, as reported.
Source: Legit.ng
