A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has reinstated Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as non Executive Chairman of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The court voided the sack of the Ararume and set aside the removal done on January 17 this year, by President Muhammadu Buhari on the grounds that the action of the President was unlawful and illegal.
Delivering judgment, Justice Inyang Ekwo awarded a cost of N5 billion against the President and NNPCL to be paid to Ararume as damages for the wrongful sack and disruption of his appointment.
Justice Ekwo ordered that Ararume be immediately restored to office as non Executive Chairman of the NNPCL.
The Judge also declared as null and void all decisions of the Board of Directors of the NNPCL carried out in the absence of Ararume.
Ararume had dragged President Buhari before the court praying it to declare his removal as NNPC Chief illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional and that it is a total breach of CAMA law under which NNPCL was incorporated.
Ararume also demanded N100 billion as compensation for the damages he suffered nationally and internationally in the unlawful way and manner his removal was carried out.
Reporting by Ifeoma Nwovu; Editing by Muzha Kucha, Adeniyi Bakare and Julian Osamoto