A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has struck out a preliminary objection filed against the Federal Government of Nigeria in respect of crude oil deals.
Justice Rilwan Aikawa dismissed the preliminary objection filed by Stardeep Water Petroleum Limited against the Federal Government on the ground that the application lacked merit.
Justice Aikawa gave the ruling on Friday, October 11, 2019 on a preliminary objection filed by Stardeep Water Petroleum Limited. The court dismissed the objection and held that the application had no merit.
Justice Aikawa further held that there was sufficient cause of action against the company as claimed by the Federal Government of Nigeria and asked the company to answer the case against it.
The judge adjourned the case till December 5, 2019 for trial.
It will be recalled that the Federal Government of Nigeria had sometime in 2016, through its counsel, Professor Fabian Ajogwu (SAN),t adjourn instituted actions in court against some International Oil Companies (IOCs) to recover lost revenues allegedly arising from undeclared and under-declared crude oil shipments from Nigeria to different parts of the world between 2011 and 2014.
The court agreed with the submissions of counsel to the Federal Government.
source: The Guardian