Ifeanyi Ararume’s dismissal from his position as non-executive chairman of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has been overturned by a federal high court in Abuja.
His expulsion was unlawful, according to Justice Inyang Ekwo, who delivered the ruling in the case on Tuesday. As a result, the court reinstated him as the Non-Executive Chairman of the firm with all privileges.
He argued that the CAMA statute, under which NNPCL was established, was broken by his expulsion by letter dated January 17, 2022, with reference number SGF. 3V111/86.
Ararume also requested N100 billion as compensation for the damages he sustained as a result of the wrongful removal from office in addition to requesting the court to issue an order restoring him to his position.
Araume had been chosen by President Muhammadu Buhari to serve as the corporation’s board chairman in September 2021, but he was subsequently fired and Margaret Chuba Okadigbo took his place in January of the following year.
Buhari claimed in a notice of preliminary objection that Ararume was removed as chairman of the NNPC board in accordance with section 251 (1) of the 1999 constitution while acting in his role as a public servant.
The president also claimed that Ararume’s lawsuit was limited by statute of limitations since she was fired on January 17, 2022, or around seven months before the lawsuit was filed on September 12, 2022.
The judge also annulled every choice made by the board that was established following Ararume’s dismissal. In favor of Ararume, Justice Ekwo ordered N5 billion in damages.
Glamour Adah
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