The respondents are Mak Mera Nigeria Limited, Mr. Adewale Olorunsola, Chief Michael Andrew Olorunfemi, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, the director, Department of Petroleum Resources, the minister of Petroleum Resources and Corporate Affairs Commission. The 1st to 3rd respondents had commenced the action at the Federal High Court, Lagos, September 16, 2014 seeking for a declaration that the contract between them and Mak Mera as contained in their agreements of March 9, 2011 and February 1, 2012 is subsisting, same having been substantially performed by the plaintiff. They also want an order for damages against the 4th and 5th defendants jointly and severally in the sum of $20million for their act of unlawful interference into or inducement of the breach of the contract between the plaintiffs and the 1st defendant. The defendants/appellants challenged the jurisdiction of the court, arguing that the cause of action arose in Ontario, Canada and therefore should be heard there.However, Justice Ibrahim Buba on February 24, 2015 disagreed with the defendants/appellants and affirmed that Nigerian courts have jurisdiction to hear the matter, since the oil wells are located in Nigeria. Dissatisfied with the ruling, the defendant appealed to the appeal court, urging the court to upturn Justice Buba’s decision.The appeal would now be heard on July 11.

Source: The Guardian March 20, 2018 04:07 UTC