Federal High Court in Abuja has set aside President Muhammadu Buhari’s removal of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as the Chairman of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment on Tuesday, held that Buhari acted outside his powers and illegally in the way he removed Ararume after using his name to register NNPCL, adding that such brazen act cannot stand in the face of the law.

Justice Ekwo also held that by purporting to remove Ararume on January 17, 2023 after he had resumed office, President Buhari arbitrarily and unlawfully.

He ordered that Ararume be immediately restored to office as the non-Executive Chairman of the NNPCL.The Judge also declared as null and void all decisions taken by NNPCL’s Board of Directors in Ararume’s absence.

He awarded N5bn damages against Buhari and NNPCL in favour of Ararume for the wrongful sack and the disruption of his appointment.

The judgment was on a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1629/2022 filed by challenging his removal from office, arguing that it was a violation of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).He prayed to be restored to office and sought N100b in damages.