Court fixes June 5 for oil firms suit

An Appeal Court in Lagos has fixed hearing in an appeal brought by Chevron USA Inc. and others against Brittania-U Nigeria Limited for June 5, 2017.Chevron, in the appeal filed two and half years ago, is challenging the judgment of a Federal High Court, Lagos, which assumed jurisdiction to entertain a suit on the divestment of Chevron’s interest in Oil Mining Licenses 52, 53 and 55.

The appellate court fixed June 5, 2017 after the submissions of lawyers representing both parties in the suit.Other appellants in the suit are BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Mr Hermant Patel and Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited.

At the last adjourned date, counsel to Brittania-U Nigeria, Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), told the court about a pending application seeking to dismiss the appellants appeal for want of diligent prosecution because of failure to transmit record or file appellants’ brief.

He said the appellants filed a motion for extension of time to compile and transmit records of appeal.Owonikoko said his client had filed an application to dismiss the appeal because of the appellants’ delay in prosecuting the appeal.

The court awarded N20,000 cost to Brittania-U after Owonikoko withdrew the motion to dismiss the appeal after the appellants counsel said the record of appeal had been compiled and transmitted.

Brittania-U sued the defendants (appellants) over the Oil Mining Leases numbered 52, 53 and 55, sold by Chevron.