The Supreme Court has brought an end to the legal tussle between General Hydrocarbons Limited (GHL) and First Bank of Nigeria over the crude oil aboard the FPSO *Tamara Tokoni*, ordering that the cargo be released immediately to the oil company.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court ruled that the dispute arose from contractual obligations between the parties and did not qualify as an admiralty matter.
The court held that, on that basis, the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
The apex court consequently nullified the earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal and upheld the appeal filed by General Hydrocarbons Limited, effectively resolving the long-running dispute in the company’s favour.
The panel, comprising Justices Uwani Musa Abba Aji, Adamu Jauro, Emmanuel Agim, Tijjani Abubakar, and Habeeb Adewale Abiru, further directed the Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal and the Admiralty Marshal to ensure the immediate release of the crude oil aboard the FPSO Tamara Tokoni to General Hydrocarbons Limited.
The dispute centred on the ownership and control of the crude cargo stored aboard the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, with both GHL and First Bank of Nigeria locked in a prolonged legal battle over the asset.
By affirming that the matter was purely contractual rather than one falling under admiralty jurisdiction, the Supreme Court effectively set aside all proceedings founded on the Federal High Court’s exercise of admiralty jurisdiction in the case.
The ruling marks the final judicial determination of the dispute and clears the way for General Hydrocarbons Limited to take immediate possession of the crude oil aboard the FPSO Tamara Tokoni, ending years of litigation between the parties.
