A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has reversed its order revoking the oil block, OPL 245, from Shell Nigeria Limited and Eni.
Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had dragged Shell, Eni, former Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete, Mohammed Adoke, former attorney-general, and a businessman, Aliyu Abubakar, before the court over alleged fraud.
Against this backdrop, EFCC had on January 26, got an order for the forfeiture of the oil block, OPL 245 by Shell and Eni, which is considered as the largest oil block in Nigeria.
The oil companies were alleged to have fraudulently acquired the block in 1998 but the money was never remitted to the government
The anti-graft agency had prayed the court to temporarily return the oil well to the government while it continued its investigation.
Displeased by the order, both Shell and Eni had filed an application seeking to vacate the order.
The trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, on Monday, had adjourned the case to Friday after Malabu Oil and Gas filed an application to join the matter.
During today’s resumed trial, Justice Tsoho reversed his order and it also refused the application of Malabu oil and gas to join the matter.