Appeal Court Halts Contempt Proceedings against Oil Firm, Officials

The Court of Appeal sitting Lagos has ordered the Federal High Court to halt contempt proceedings against Excel Exploration and Production Limited and its officials pending the hearing and final determination of the appeal filed against the court’s ruling.

Justice Jimi Olukayode Bada issued the order recently, directing the stay of all proceedings against the oil firm at the trial court presided over by Justice Lewis Allagoa.

The appellate court ordered the lower court to suspend all proceedings/further proceedings including the Committal Proceedings before it in Suit Number FHC/ CS/L/371/2021.

The lower court had in a ruling delivered on November 1, 2021 ordered Excel Exploration and Production Limited (Appellant) to render monthly reports to a Receiver Manager on the activities in Eremor Marginal Oil field.

Dissatisfied, the appellant through its counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN) appealed against the ruling and also filed a Notice of Appeal dated April 20.

Thereafter, the appellant compiled and transmitted records of appeal and the appeal entered as - Appeal Number: CA/LAG/ CV/973/2021 — Excel Exploration and Production Limited v Access Bank &Others.

The appellant in a 21-paragraph affidavit in support of the Motion on Notice deposed to by one Babajide Oyedele, a legal practitioner, stated that subsequent to the entry of the records of appeal, appellant filed a motion on notice dated May 10, 2022 praying the court for a stay of execution/enforcement of the orders of the court below.