Business
The Siege on OML 42: Inside the Suspicious Legal Frenzy Targeting Nestoil and Neconde
The Siege on OML 42: Inside the Suspicious Legal Frenzy Targeting Nestoil and Neconde
Ex parte orders freeze billions in assets as oil firms fight to protect operations
A high-stakes battle threatening to upend Nigeria’s indigenous oil industry
On quiet days, OML 42 sleeps like a wounded giant in the swamps of the Niger Delta—its pipelines humming with the fading memory of roaring production, politics, and crude oil fortunes. But in recent weeks, the oilfield has become the epicentre of a legal hurricane so violent that it has shaken boardrooms from Lagos to London and rattled investor confidence in Nigeria’s fragile petroleum economy.
At the heart of the crisis sit Nestoil Limited, Neconde Energy, and an explosive mix of lenders, judges, regulators, lawyers, and petitioners—each tugging at an oil asset that once fed the national treasury with imperial abundance. What began as a routine debt-recovery move has spiralled into a sprawling legal war, punctuated by allegations of judicial overreach, suppressed facts, corporate asphyxiation, and fears of an orchestrated attempt to seize control of OML 42 through the courts.
What follows is the inside story of how sweeping ex parte orders froze billion-dollar assets, halted oil production, provoked foreign lenders, triggered judicial petitions, and raised the spectre of a catastrophic collapse with implications far beyond any courtroom.
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A Single Order That Shook the Oil Sector
It began quietly on October 20, 2025, when FBNQuest Merchant Bank and First Trustees filed an ex parte motion. By October 22, Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, had granted one of the broadest Mareva injunctions in recent Nigerian corporate history.
The order froze all bank accounts, shares, and assets of Nestoil, Neconde, and related companies—effectively paralysing a multi-billion-dollar group with strategic footprints in engineering, oil services, and upstream petroleum.
The plaintiffs claimed the companies owed $1.01 billion and ₦430 billion. The defendants said the figures were unverified, inflated, and grossly misleading.
Yet without hearing from the companies, the court ordered a blanket freeze, sweeping through commercial banks like a harmattan storm and locking out executives and signatories overnight.
Even more controversially, the ex parte order empowered a receiver/manager, and allegedly authorised the Nigerian Navy and DSS to enforce the civil directives—a move critics say militarises what is essentially a commercial dispute.
For Neconde, operator of OML 42 with roughly 40,000 barrels per day, the effect was devastating:
production collapsed to zero.
—
Neconde: “We Do Not Owe a Kobo.”
Shocked by the freeze, Neconde insisted it is not indebted under the syndicated loan that forms the basis of the plaintiffs’ claims:
It was neither borrower nor guarantor.
It already has an active winding-up proceeding (FHC/CP/1439/2025), which under CAMA 2020 protects it from fresh lawsuits or enforcement without leave of court.
Any order against it, therefore, is “null, void, and of no effect.”
Neconde accused the plaintiffs of:
Dragging it into a dispute that doesn’t concern it
Judicial overreach
Wrongful interference with third-party rights
Causing the shutdown of an oilfield critical to national revenue
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Foreign Lenders Enter the Battlefield
The crisis escalated dramatically when foreign lenders stormed the courtroom.
Glencore Energy UK Limited, Fidelity Bank, Mauritius Commercial Bank, and the Africa Finance Corporation—senior creditors behind a $640 million syndicated facility—warned that Justice Dipeolu’s orders threaten the very foundation of international financing for Nigeria’s indigenous oil sector.
Represented by Olufemi Oyewole, SAN, they argued:
The plaintiffs obtained the injunction by concealing the existence of the senior secured loan.
The Deed of Charge relied upon by the plaintiffs is subordinate to the lenders’ security documents.
Freezing Neconde’s accounts jeopardises repayment of their facility.
Nigeria risks massive reputational damage if court orders can override established security hierarchies.
Their intervention reframed the matter as a test of whether Nigeria is still a safe jurisdiction for international oil financing.
—
Petitions to the Chief Judge—and an Embattled Judiciary
Then came the most explosive turn.
Petitions flooded the office of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and the National Judicial Council, accusing Justice Dipeolu of judicial excess. Among the allegations:
Issuing sweeping orders over assets whose ownership was unclear
Involving military agencies (Navy and DSS) in enforcement of civil orders
Freezing assets of Neconde despite ongoing winding-up proceedings
Allowing crude sales under a receivership arrangement in violation of the preservative nature of interim injunctions
On November 7, Justice Dipeolu admitted receiving the petitions and suspended further proceedings pending the Chief Judge’s directive on whether he should continue or recuse himself.
What started as routine debt recovery had now grown into an institutional crisis threatening judicial credibility.
—
Nestoil and Neconde Fight Back
The companies responded with a strong counteroffensive.
They accused the plaintiffs of suppressing a critical fact:
a Common Terms Agreement executed in December 2022, under which the alleged debts were restructured with a fresh 10-year repayment plan.
Other key defence arguments:
FBNQuest allegedly refused to provide account statements for over three years, making the debt unverifiable.
The receiver appointed by the plaintiffs is allegedly not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, contrary to CAMA.
The sweeping order froze personal accounts of directors—an act they call illegal and vindictive.
Nestoil Tower, an iconic, immovable property in Victoria Island, was frozen unnecessarily, suggesting an attempt at strategic seizure.
The companies warned that the consequences of these actions are fatal:
OML 42 shutdown
Collapse of corporate operations
Interruption of contractual obligations with the Federal Government
Severe revenue losses to Nigeria
—
A Dark Suspicion: Is Someone Trying to Seize OML 42?
In industry circles, a troubling theory has taken root:
that the entire legal drama may be a covert corporate raid designed to take over OML 42 through judicial means.
Fueling this suspicion:
The breadth of the ex parte orders
Attempted crude-sale authorisations
Military involvement
Disregard of winding-up protections
A sweeping receivership with overreaching powers
Complete paralysis of accounts and operations
Nigeria has seen similar corporate warfare before—where interim injunctions were weaponised for strategic acquisition. Whether true or not, the speculation reflects the deep mistrust that shadows high-value commercial disputes in the country.
—
Why This Matters for Nigeria
OML 42 is not an ordinary asset.
In the 1970s, it produced nearly 250,000 barrels per day—one of Nigeria’s crown jewels.
Today, Nigeria’s struggling oil industry faces:
declining production
massive divestments
chronic vandalism
evaporating investment
A prolonged shutdown of OML 42 would be catastrophic.
Foreign lenders are watching. International oil financiers are watching. Indigenous operators are watching.
If a single ex parte order—delivered without hearing from affected companies—can halt a producing oilfield overnight, the message to global capital is chilling.
—
A Nation on the Edge of a Precedent
The case now sits in a tense limbo, awaiting the Chief Judge’s directive on whether Justice Dipeolu will continue or step aside.
What happens next is critical.
For Nestoil and Neconde, it is a fight for survival.
For senior lenders, it is a defence of global financing principles.
For the judiciary, it is a test of integrity and restraint.
For Nigeria, it is a moment of reckoning.
Will the rule of law steady the ship—or will this become another cautionary tale in Nigeria’s turbulent oil industry?
For now, OML 42 lies quiet, its wells dormant, its pipelines still, a sleeping colossus held hostage by the uncertain rhythms of law, power, and ambition.
Business
BUA Foods Records 91% Surge in Profit After Tax, Hits ₦508bn in 2025
BUA Foods Records 91% Surge in Profit After Tax, Hits ₦508bn in 2025
By femi Oyewale
Business
Adron Homes Unveils “Love for Love” Valentine Promo with Exciting Discounts, Luxury Gifts, and Travel Rewards
Adron Homes Unveils “Love for Love” Valentine Promo with Exciting Discounts, Luxury Gifts, and Travel Rewards
In celebration of the season of love, Adron Homes and Properties has announced the launch of its special Valentine campaign, “Love for Love” Promo, a customer-centric initiative designed to reward Nigerians who choose to express love through smart, lasting real estate investments.
The Love for Love Promo offers clients attractive discounts, flexible payment options, and an array of exclusive gift items, reinforcing Adron Homes’ commitment to making property ownership both rewarding and accessible. The campaign runs throughout the Valentine season and applies to the company’s wide portfolio of estates and housing projects strategically located across Nigeria.
Speaking on the promo, the company’s Managing Director, Mrs Adenike Ajobo, stated that the initiative is aimed at encouraging individuals and families to move beyond conventional Valentine gifts by investing in assets that secure their future. According to the company, love is best demonstrated through stability, legacy, and long-term value—principles that real estate ownership represents.
Under the promo structure, clients who make a payment of ₦100,000 receive cake, chocolates, and a bottle of wine, while those who pay ₦200,000 are rewarded with a Love Hamper. Payments of ₦500,000 attract a Love Hamper plus cake, and clients who pay ₦1,000,000 enjoy a choice of a Samsung phone or a Love Hamper with cake.
The rewards become increasingly premium as commitment grows. Clients who pay ₦5,000,000 receive either an iPad or an all-expenses-paid romantic getaway for a couple at one of Nigeria’s finest hotels, which includes two nights’ accommodation, special treats, and a Love Hamper. A payment of ₦10,000,000 comes with a choice of a Samsung Z Fold 7, three nights at a top-tier resort in Nigeria, or a full solar power installation.
For high-value investors, the Love for Love Promo delivers exceptional lifestyle experiences. Clients who pay ₦30,000,000 on land are rewarded with a three-night couple’s trip to Doha, Qatar, or South Africa, while purchasers of any Adron Homes house valued at ₦50,000,000 receive a double-door refrigerator.
The promo covers Adron Homes’ estates located in Lagos, Shimawa, Sagamu, Atan–Ota, Papalanto, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Osun, Ekiti, Abuja, Nasarawa, and Niger States, offering clients the opportunity to invest in fast-growing, strategically positioned communities nationwide.
Adron Homes reiterated that beyond the incentives, the campaign underscores the company’s strong reputation for secure land titles, affordable pricing, strategic locations, and a proven legacy in real estate development.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, Adron Homes encourages Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to take advantage of the Love for Love Promo to enjoy exceptional value, exclusive rewards, and the opportunity to build a future rooted in love, security, and prosperity.
Business
Why Nigeria’s Banks Still on Shaky Ground with Big Profits, Weak Capital
*Why Nigeria’s Banks Still on Shaky Ground with Big Profits, Weak Capital*
*BY BLAISE UDUNZE*
Despite the fragile 2024 economy grappling with inflation, currency volatility, and weak growth, Nigeria’s banking industry was widely portrayed as successful and strong amid triumphal headlines. The figures appeared to signal strength, resilience, and superior management as the Tier-1 banks such as Access Bank, Zenith Bank, GTBank, UBA, and First Bank of Nigeria, collectively reported profits approaching, and in some cases exceeding, N1 trillion. Surprisingly, a year later, these same banks touted as sound and solid are locked in a frenetic race to the capital markets, issuing rights offers and public placements back-to-back to meet the Central Bank of Nigeria’s N500 billion recapitalisation thresholds.
The contradiction is glaring. If Nigeria’s biggest banks are so profitable, why are they unable to internally fund their new capital requirements? Why have no fewer than 27 banks tapped the capital market in quick succession despite repeated assurances of balance-sheet robustness? And more fundamentally, what do these record profits actually say about the real health of the banking system?
The recapitalisation directive announced by the CBN in 2024 was ambitious by design. Banks with international licences were required to raise minimum capital to N500 billion by March 2026, while national and regional banks faced lower but still substantial thresholds ranging from N200 billion to N50 billion, respectively. Looking at the policy, it was sold as a modern reform meant to make banks stronger, more resilient in tough times, and better able to support major long-term economic development. In theory, strong banks should welcome such reforms. In practice, the scramble that followed has exposed uncomfortable truths about the structure of bank profitability in Nigeria.
At the heart of the inconsistency is a fundamental misunderstanding often encouraged by the banks themselves between profits and capital. Unknown to many, profitability, no matter how impressive, does not automatically translate into regulatory capital. Primarily, the CBN’s recapitalisation framework actually focuses on money paid in by shareholders when buying shares, fresh equity injected by investors over retained earnings or profits that exist mainly on paper.
This distinction matters because much of the profit surge recorded in 2024 and early 2025 was neither cash-generative nor sustainably repeatable. A significant portion of those headline banks’ profits reported actually came from foreign exchange revaluation gains following the sharp fall of the naira after exchange-rate unification. The industry witnessed that banks’ holding dollar-denominated assets their books showed bigger numbers as their balance sheets swell in naira terms, creating enormous paper profits without a corresponding improvement in underlying operational strength. These gains inflated income statements but did little to strengthen core capital, especially after the CBN barred banks from using FX revaluation gains for dividends or routine operations. In effect, banks looked richer without becoming stronger.
Beyond FX effects, Nigerian banks have increasingly relied on non-interest income fees, charges, and transaction levies to drive profitability. While this model is lucrative, it does not necessarily deepen financial intermediation or expand productive lending. High profits built on customer charges rather than loan growth offer limited support for long-term balance-sheet expansion. They also leave banks vulnerable when macroeconomic conditions shift, as is now happening.
Indeed, the recapitalisation exercise coincides with a turning point in the monetary cycle. The extraordinary conditions that supported bank earnings in 2024 and 2025 are beginning to unwind. Analysts now warn that Nigerian banks are approaching earnings reset, as net interest margins the backbone of traditional banking profitability, come under sustained pressure.
Renaissance Capital, in a January note, projects that major banks including Zenith, GTCO, Access Holdings, and UBA will struggle to deliver earnings growth in 2026 comparable to recent performance.
In a real sense, the CBN is expected to lower interest rates by 400 to 500 basis points because inflation is slowing down, and this means that banks will earn less on loans and government bonds, but they may not be able to quickly lower the interest they pay on deposits or other debts. The cash reserve requirements are still elevated, which does not earn interest; banks can’t easily increase or expand lending investments to make up for lower returns. The implications are significant. Net interest margin, the difference between what banks earn on loans and investments and what they pay on deposits, is poised to contract. Deposit competition is intensifying as lenders fight to shore up liquidity ahead of recapitalisation deadlines, pushing up funding costs. At the same time, yields on treasury bills and bonds, long a safe and lucrative haven for banks are expected to soften in a lower-rate environment. The result is a narrowing profit cushion just as banks are being asked to carry far larger equity bases.
Compounding this challenge is the fading of FX revaluation windfalls. With the naira relatively more stable in early 2026, the non-cash gains that once flattered bank earnings have largely evaporated. What remains is the less glamorous reality of core banking operations: credit risk management, cost efficiency, and genuine loan growth in a sluggish economy. In this new environment, maintaining headline profits will be far harder, even before accounting for the dilutive impact of recapitalisation.
That dilution is another underappreciated consequence of the capital rush. Massive share issuances mean that even if banks manage to sustain absolute profit levels, earnings per share and return on equity are likely to decline. Zenith, Access, UBA, and others are dramatically increasing their share counts. The same earnings pie is now being divided among many more shareholders, making individual returns leaner than during the pre-recapitalisation boom. For investors, the optics of strong profits may soon give way to the reality of weaker per-share performance.
Yet banks have pressed ahead, not only out of regulatory necessity but also strategic calculation.
During this period of recapitalization, investors are interested in the stock market with optimism, especially about bank shares, as banks are raising fresh capital, and this makes it easier to attract investments. This has become a season for the management teams to seize the moment to raise funds at relatively attractive valuations, strengthen ownership positions, and position themselves for post-recapitalisation dominance. In several cases, major shareholders and insiders have increased their stakes, as projected in the media, signalling confidence in long-term prospects even as near-term returns face pressure.
There is also a broader structural ambition at play. Well-capitalised banks can take on larger single obligor exposures, finance infrastructure projects, expand regionally, and compete more credibly with pan-African and global peers. From this perspective, recapitalisation is not merely about compliance but about reshaping the competitive hierarchy of Nigerian banking. What will be witnessed in the industry is that those who succeed will emerge larger, fewer, and more powerful. Those that fail will be forced into consolidation, retreat, or irrelevance.
For the wider economy, the outcome is ambiguous. Stronger banks with deeper capital buffers could improve systemic stability and enhance Nigeria’s ability to fund long-term development. The point is that while merging or consolidating banks may make them safer, it can also harm the market and the economy because it will reduce competition, let a few banks dominate, and encourage them to earn easy money from bonds and fees instead of funding real businesses. The truth be told, injecting more capital into the banks without complementary reforms in credit infrastructure, risk-sharing mechanisms, and fiscal discipline, isn’t enough as the aforementioned reforms are also needed.
The rush as exposed in this period, is that the moment Nigerian banks started raising new capital, the glaring reality behind their reported profits became clearer, that profits weren’t purely from good management, while the financial industry is not as sound and strong as its headline figures. The fact that trillion-naira profit banks must return repeatedly to shareholders for fresh capital is not a sign of excess strength, but of structural imbalance.
With the deadline for banks to raise new capital coming soon, by 31 March 2026, the focus has shifted from just raising N500 billion. N200 billion or N50 billion to think about the future shape and quality of Nigeria’s financial industry, or what it will actually look like afterward. Will recapitalisation mark a turning point toward deeper intermediation, lower dependence on speculative gains, and stronger support for economic growth? Or will it simply reset the numbers while leaving underlying incentives unchanged?
The answer will define the next chapter of Nigerian banking long after the capital market roadshows have ended and the profit headlines have faded.
Blaise, a journalist and PR professional, writes from Lagos and can be reached via: [email protected]
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