Court appoints administrator in Cenroc–AMNI dispute

The Federal High Court in Lagos has issued orders in a suit involving Cenroc FPSO Solutions Nigeria Limited and AMNI International Petroleum Development Company, including the appointment of a legal practitioner, Mr. Sam Aiboni, as administrator over certain interests connected to the dispute.

The case, marked FHC/L/CS/1454/2025, was brought before the Lagos Division of the court, where proceedings centred on contractual obligations and outstanding financial claims between the parties.

According to details contained in court documents, the court granted reliefs sought by the applicant, including an order appointing an administrator to oversee specified assets, properties, funds and business interests associated with the respondent, in line with provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020.

The documents also indicate that the administrator was authorised to assume custody and management of identified operational assets and facilities connected to the dispute, subject to the supervision and directives of the court.

In addition, the court was said to have issued restraining orders intended to prevent interference with the execution of the administrator’s duties pending further legal processes.

Legal observers note that such interim or substantive orders are procedural mechanisms available to courts in commercial disputes, particularly where creditor claims and asset preservation issues arise. They emphasised that court rulings in civil matters remain subject to appeal or further judicial review, depending on the actions of the parties involved.

Efforts to obtain independent confirmation or official responses from representatives of the companies as of press time were unsuccessful.

The development highlights the increasing recourse to judicial and statutory remedies in resolving complex commercial disagreements within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.