The Federal High Court Abuja on Friday reversed its previous decision, revoking the control of one of Nigeria’s richest oil blocks, OPL 245 by Shell and ENI.
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had dragged Shell, Eni, former Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete, Mohammed Adoke, former attorney-general, and a businessman, Aliyu Abubakar, before the court over alleged fraud.
And the court had issued order based on a motion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, retrieving the ownership of the oil block from the multinational companies.
Challenging the order, Shell and ENI approached the court with an an application to set it aside. They contended that the rights of parties to fair hearing was denied before the ruling was reached.
They asked the court to reverse the order, and allow the parties address the issue, legally.
Malabu, the company which was controversially given the oil block iin 1998 had also applied to be a party to the application.
But Justice Tsoho refused the application of Malabu oil and gas to join the matter.
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