By Deborah Onyofufeke
Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume, on Wednesday, dragged President Muhammadu Buhari to court over the alleged unlawful removal of him as a non-Executive Chairman of the newly Incorporated Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
Araraume in the suit, slammed N100 billion in damages on Buhari, at a Federal High Court In Abuja, for the alleged unlawful and unconstitutional ways and manners, that he was removed as the NNPC Chief after his name was used to incorporate the entity.
In the suit, Ararume mentioned four issues for determination by the court, among which was whether in view of the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the NNPC, Companies and Allied Matters Act 2010 and the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the office of the non-Executive Chairman is not governed and regulated by the stated provisions of the law.
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/691/2022 was filed on his behalf by a group of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) comprising Chief Chris Uche, Ahmed Raji, Mahmud Magaji, Ogwu James Onoja, K.C Nwufor and Gordy Uche.
In the suit, He is also requesting the court to determine whether, by the interpretation of section 63 (3) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the President can lawfully remove him as non-Executive Chairman of the NNPC for any reason outside the provisions of the law.
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Also listed for determination is whether his purported removal video letter of January 17, 2022, without compliance with expressly stated provisions of the law is not wrongful, illegal, null and void and of no legal consequence whatsoever.
Upon the determination of the issues in his favour, the plaintiff wants the court to make a declaration that his position as non-Executive Chairman of the NNPC is exclusively governed and regulated by CAMA 2020, PIA Act 2021 and Memorandum of Association of the Company.
A declaration that by the provisions of section 63 (3) of the PIA Act, CAMA Act and Memorandum of Association of the NNPC, the President cannot by will, remove him from office as non-Executive Chairman without following due process of the law.
Araraume, therefore, prayed for an order of the Court setting aside his removal by Buhari vide letter of January 17, 2022, with reference number SGF.3V111/86 as well as an order reinstating him forthwith and restoring him to the office with all the rights and privileges of the office of the NNPC non-Executive Chairman.
Plaintiff further demands nullification and setting aside all decisions and resolutions of the NNPC Board made in his absence from January 17, 2022, to date and another order restraining the defendants from removing his name as Director of the Company.
He requested N100 billion as damages for the wrongful removal, disruption and interruption of his term of office as non-Executive Chairman of the NNPC.
In a 75-paragraph affidavit in support of the suit, Ararume averred that upon the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the former Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation NNPC and its subsidiaries were unbundled to become Nigeria National Petroleum Company registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission with the number 1843987.
That, on October 20, 2021, President Buhari approved his appointment as a non-Executive Chairman for an initial period of five years and subsequently, his name was registered in the Memorandum of Articles of the Company and the appointment was announced to the whole world.
Based on the appointment, Ararume claimed that he attended the 23rd World Petroleum Congress in the United States of America but surprisingly on January 7th, 2022, Buhari inaugurated the NNPC Board without recourse to him while another person was named in his place.
By a letter of January 17, 2022, he was informed of the withdrawal of his appointment but without any reason whatsoever to justify the purported removal.
Plaintiff asserted that he was not guilty of any pre-conditions for removal and was never declared bankrupt or adjudged medically unfit for the job.
Based on the unlawful act of the defendant, the plaintiff said that the action has fuelled public suspicion and rumours against his person and that, he has suffered the loss of credibility and goodwill, untold emotional, mental and psychological trauma and public humiliation, degradation and embarrassment by his purported removal by President Buhari.
He, therefore, prayed the court to award him N100 billion in compensation and to order his return to office in line with the letter and conditions of his appointment.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered that the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) be joined as a party following a no objection from Chief Chris Uche who stood for Ararume and Alhasan. Shuaib who represented President Buhari.
The judge subsequently fixed December 15 for further mention in the suit and ordered that the amended originating summons be served on parties before the adjourned date.
