FHC Chief Judge Denies Reassignment of Nestoil Case

Justice John Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, rejected an application from First Trustees Limited seeking to reassign a case involving Nestoil Limited and Neconde Energy Limited. The case, marked FHC/L/CS/2127/2025, will continue under Justice Daniel Osiagor.

The application to reassign was opposed by the defendants, who argued that the request lacked factual basis and relied on a recent Supreme Court judgment in the case of Neconde Energy Limited v. FBNQuest Merchant Bank Ltd, delivered on June 15, 2026.

The Supreme Court's decision did not disqualify Justice Osiagor from handling the matter nor did it direct the case's transfer. Justice Tsoho noted that the Supreme Court's ruling is binding under Section 235 of the Nigerian Constitution, leading to the refusal of the reassignment application.

Consequently, Justice Osiagor will continue to preside over the ongoing litigation involving the financial asset management agreement between the parties.