FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA V ZEBRA ENERGY LIMITED

Issue:

By an originating summons the respondent, Zebra Energy Ltd., sought the following reliefs. "(a) A declaration that the purported cancellation and/or revocation or withdrawal of the allocation of concession acreage - OPL 248 is invalid, ineffectual and contrary to the rules of natural justice. A declaration that the said letter of allocation creates legal and equitable rights in the plaintiff; A declaration that the plaintiff has a right and interest in OPL 248. A declaration that there is a valid and existing contract between the plaintiff and the 1st - 5th defendants in respects of allocation of OPL 248. An order of injunction restraining the defendants by themselves, their servants, agents and privies from further interfering with the plaintiff's legal and equitable interest in OPL 248 and or allocating the said interest in OPL 248 to any other person individual or corporate." The matter came before the Federal High Court Abuja, which gave judgment for the respondent on 20th August, 2000 against the defendants who are the appellants in this appeal. The appellants appealed to the Court of Appeal which affirmed the decision of the trial court. The appellants have further appealed to the Supreme Court.