Appeal court fixes hearing on oil dispute case

The Court of Appeal, Lagos has fixed June 5, 2017 for the substantive hearing in a suit instituted by Chevron U.S.A Inc. and others against the judgment of a Federal High Court, Lagos which assumed jurisdiction to entertain a suit brought against them by Brittania-U Nigeria Limited over the divestment of Chevron interest in OMLs 52, 53 and 55.

The appellants include: Chevron U. S.A. Inc, BNP Paribas  Securities Corp., Mr Hermant Patel and Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited.

During the hearing of the matter last friday, counsel to the respondent (Brittania-U Nigeria Limited), Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) told the three man panel headed by Justice J. S. Ikyegh, that a pending application praying the court to dismiss the appellants appeal for want of diligent prosecution.

He stated that the appellants in the meantime filed a motion for extension of time to compile and transmit records of appeal despite the fact that Chevron was the one who filed the appeal since two and half years ago after the lower court ruled that it had jurisdiction to entertain the matter. Furthermore, Owonikoko  informed the court that his client had an application for the dismissal of the appeal but that it had been overtaken by events.

But the appellants counsel, Mr. A Etuwewe told the court that the record of appeal had been compiled and transmitted to the Court of Appeal.

However, Brittania-U Nigeria Limited did not oppose the application.

The court thereafter granted the appellants’ counsel’s application to compile and transmit records of appeal. The court also awarded a sum of N20, 000 in favor of Brittania-U Nigeria Limited whose counsel then withdrew their motion for dismissal of the appeal.