5th November, 2021
Two firms have dragged the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and his counterpart in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to court over alleged cancelation of their operational permit.
The minister was dragged before the Federal High Court, Lagos by Nov Oilfield Solutions Limited and Nov Oil and Gas Services Nigeria Limited.
The suit was supported with 52- paragraphs affidavit deposed to by Fred Ntido, a legal practioner, detailing how the respondents breach the constitutional right of the firms.
The plaintiffs want the court to determine whether by virtue of the relevant provision of the Petroleum Industry Act, Cap P10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004; the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 and terms and conditions of the Oil and Gas industry Service Permit, the purported cancellation to operate as oil and gas firms is justified and lawful.
The plaintiffs are also praying the court to order the respondents to pay them the sum of $10 million for exemplary and aggravated damages for the purported cancellation and to tender apology for their actions.
The firms also wanted the court to declare the purported cancelation of its operational permits null and void.