Court Dismisses $19.6 Million Lawsuit Against NNPC Ltd

On Thursday, a Federal Capital Territory High Court dismissed a $19.6 million lawsuit filed against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), stating that the claim lacked merit. The lawsuit was initiated by a claimant who sought payment for professional fees allegedly owed by the NNPC.

The court found that the suit was based on a claim that an initial agreement had been expanded through oral discussions and mutual conduct, which the claimant argued constituted an unofficial understanding between the parties. However, the court rejected this argument, ruling that there was insufficient evidence to support the demand for the $19.6 million payment.

The judgment emphasized that the parties involved were bound by the strict terms of the written agreement, and that verbal arrangements or unofficial understandings could not override a properly executed contract without clear documented consent from all parties involved. This ruling reaffirms the legal principle known as the sanctity of contracts.