The former chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts is demanding reinstatement into office with all privileges attached, as well as N100 billion in compensation for emotional and character damage.
In the suit, the SANs claimed on Ararume’s behalf that he had suffered credibility loss and a series of traumas as a result of the President’s decision to remove him from office.
The suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja described. The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/691/2022 had Chief Chris Uche, Ahmed Raji, Mahmud Magaji, Ogwu James Onoja, K.C Nwufor and Gordy Uche as SANs in defence of Ararume.
Araraume, in the suit, formulated four issues for determination by the court, among which was whether, given 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 politician asked the court to establish whether President Buhari can by the interpretation of section 63 (3) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, terminate his appointment as non-Executive Chairman of the NNPC for any reason.
Ararume also asked the court to examine whether Buhari can sack him without compliance with expressly stated provisions of the Articles of Memorandum of Association of the Company, section 63 (3) of the PIA Act 2021 and section 288 of the CAMA Act 2020. Also listed for determination was whether his purported removal 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 determining the issues in his favour, the plaintiff wants the court to declare that his non-Executive Chairman of the NNPC is exclusively governed and regulated by CAMA 2020, PIA Act 2021 and the Memorandum of Association of the Company.
Naija News understands that the politician is also demanding 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 remove him from office as non-Executive Chairman without following due process of the law.
Ararume requested a court order setting aside Buhari’s removal via letter dated January 17, 2022, with reference number SGF.3V111/86.
While reiterating his demand for N100 billion in damages, the plaintiff also seeks the nullification and setting aside of all NNPC Board decisions and resolutions made in his absence from January 17, 2022, to the present, as well as an order preventing the defendants from removing his name as a Director of the Company.
Ararume stated in a 75-paragraph affidavit supporting the suit that following the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the former NNPC and its subsidiaries were unbundled to form Nigeria National Petroleum Company, which is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission under the registration number 1843987.
That on October 20, 2021, President Buhari approved his appointment as a non-Executive Chairman for a period of initial 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 averred claimed that he attended the 23rd World Petroleum Congress in the United States of America.
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.
Ararume maintained in the suit that he was not guilty of pre-conditions that could have warranted his removal from office. He said he was never declared bankrupt or adjudged medically unfit for the job.
The plaintiff claimed that the defendant’s unlawful act had fueled public suspicion and rumours against him.
The suit read in court on Wednesday asked the court to order Ararume’s reinstatement in accordance with the letter and conditions of his appointment.
Following no objection from Chief Chris Uche (SAN), who represented Ararume, and Alhasan Shuaib, who represented President Buhari, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered that the Corporate Affairs Commission be joined as a party during Wednesday’s proceedings.
Justice Ekwo later set December 15 for further hearing in the case and ordered that the amended originating summons be served on parties before the adjourned date.
