President Muhammadu Buhari has taken due notice of judgment by the Federal High Court, Abuja, restoring Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as the non-executive Chairman of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Last week Wednesday’s trip was Buhari’s fifth foreign trip in 2023 and his final visit to the Kingdom as President.
The president had successfully performed Umrah rituals amid tight security upon his arrival at the Grand Mosque in Makkah from Madinah on Thursday morning.
It was gathered that the president had, alongside members of his entourage as well as some traditional and religious leaders from the six geopolitical zones of the country, been led by a delegation from the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque in the performance of the rituals.
The Nigerian leader, according to News Agency of Nigeria (Nan), had earlier visited some historic religious places in Madinah on Tuesday and Wednesday before he proceeded to Makkah for the Umrah.
But, according to a release issued on Tuesday by the Media Adviser to the President, Femi Adesina, while the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice is yet to receive a formal copy of the ruling, the president affirmed that due judicial process will be followed, and NNPCL has already taken steps to go on appeal.
The president was said 5o have insisted that the administration respects the rule of law, and nothing will be done outside it to resolve the matter.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday set aside the removal of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as the Non Executive Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited Board.
Justice Ekwo in a judgment held that Ararume’s removal by President Muhammadu Buhari contravened provisions of the NNPC Ltd laws as well as the Company’s and Allied Matters Act.
The judge consequently made an order reinstating Ararume as Non Executive Chairman of the NNPC Ltd Board with immediate effect.
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Besides, the court voided all the actions and decisions made so far by the board without Ararume.
Justice Ekwo held that Ararume was entitled to damages over the unlawful manner he was removed and consequently award damages in the sum of N5 billion.
President Buhari has sued for calm from all sides involved, promising that judicial processes must be followed in resolving the matter.
