This comes barely 24 hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja, reinstated Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as the non-executive Chairman of the NNPCL and awarded him N5bn in damages. A judgement Buhari said the Federal Government would appeal.
On January 5, 2022, Buhari appointed the Board and Management of the NNPCL, replacing Ararume with Margery Okadigbo, widow of the late Chuba Okadigbo who was Buhari’s running mate in the 2003 presidential election.
He also named Mele Kyari as Chief Executive Officer and Umar Ajiya as Chief Financial Officer.
The appointment came barely five months after Buhari signed into law the Petroleum Industry Act (2021).
In September 2021 the President had written to the Senate on the administrative structure amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act, which included the appointment of Non-Executive Board Members, removal of the Ministries of Petroleum and Finance from the Board of the two new institutions, and appointment of Executive Directors.
The appointments took effect from the date of the incorporation of the NNPCL on September 29, 2021.
However, Ararume’s replacement set off a long legal battle that culminated in his favor on Tuesday.
The former NNPC chairman had sued Buhari praying the court to declare his removal as the NNPCL chief illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional and to label it as a total breach of CAMA law under which the NNPCL was incorporated.
Ararume also prayed the court to issue an order to return him to office and also demanded N100bn as compensation for the damages he suffered nationally and internationally.
But reacting to the development the President said, “The administration respects the Rule of Law, and nothing will be done outside it to resolve the matter,” a statement signed by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, read on Wednesday.
It continued, “President Buhari has taken due notice of judgment by the Federal High Court, Abuja, restoring Senator Ararume as the non-executive Chairman of the NNPCL.
“While the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation/Minister of Justice is yet to receive a formal copy of the ruling, the President affirms that due judicial process will be followed, and NNPCL has already taken steps to go on appeal.
“The administration respects the Rule of Law, and nothing will be done outside it to resolve the matter, the President says. He sues for calm from all sides involved.”
