NNPCL chair: Judgement nullifying Ararume’s sack’ll be appealed — Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to appeal the judgement which nullified the sack of Sen. Ifeanyi Ararume as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, April 18, declared that Ararume’s removal was unconstitutional.

The judge ordered that the former lawmaker be reinstated as the Non-Executive Chairman of the NNPCL with full benefits.

Justice Ekwo, who also set aside every decision taken by the board after Ararume’s removal, awarded N5 billion as damages in favour of Ararume.

However, President Buhari, in a statement issued on Wednesday, April 19, by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, said the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation/Minister for Justice is yet to receive a formal copy of the ruling.

Adesina stressed that the President has affirmed that due judicial process would 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,” he added.

Adesina quoted Buhari as calling for calm from all sides involved.

Ararume, who was appointed by President Buhari in September 2021, was sacked and replaced with Margaret Chuba Okadigbo in January 2022.

He, however, sued the Federal Government, praying the court to declare his sack as NNPCL board chairman illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional.

The former senator stated that his removal by a letter dated January 17, 2022, with reference number SGF. 3V111/86 was a violation of the CAMA law under which NNPCL was incorporated.

Apart from asking the court to issue an order to return him to office, Ararume also demanded N100 billion as compensation for the damages he suffered following the unlawful removal.

The Star