Sulu-Gambari Faces Contempt Charge for Defying Court Orders

By Tgnews Reporter

The ongoing corporate dispute involving Nestoil Limited has intensified after Mr. Abubakar Sulu-Gambari, SAN, the appointed Receiver/Manager, was served with contempt of court notices for allegedly defying a Federal High Court order that suspended his powers.

The contempt notices were served on Mr. Sulu-Gambari in his office on Wednesday, following claims that he continued to act in his capacity as Receiver despite a clear court directive to the contrary. Legal observers have described the development as a significant escalation that raises serious questions about respect for judicial authority.

On December 1, 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2534/2025, ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the hearing of substantive motions. The court explicitly suspended the purported powers of the Receiver/Manager.

Despite this order, Mr. Sulu-Gambari reportedly issued public press releases dated June 3 and June 4, 2026, which were published in national media. In those statements, he asserted that he remained the Receiver/Manager over Nestoil Limited and Neconde Energy Limited and warned the public against dealing with any other persons in that capacity.

The contempt application, brought under Form 48 (Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Order of Court), accuses him of willful disobedience. It was filed pursuant to the Judgment Enforcement Rules, the Sheriff and Civil Processes Act, 2004, and the court’s inherent powers.

The situation is further complicated by recent Supreme Court decisions. On June 1, 2026, in SC/CV/1130/2025, the apex court set aside ex parte orders of the Court of Appeal dated November 27, 2025, which had previously favoured the Receiver.

In an earlier judgment on April 10, 2026 (SC/CV/46/2026), the Supreme Court had also ruled that the authority of the Receiver was a central issue in the substantive suit and could not be exercised while the matter was pending before the Federal High Court.

Mr. Sulu-Gambari, named as a defendant in the Federal High Court suit presided over by Justice P. O. Lifu, is said to have full knowledge of these orders, which remain extant and unchallenged.

The Nestoil matter involves complex corporate governance and receivership issues between involved parties, including First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) interests. The case has seen multiple court actions at different levels of the judiciary, reflecting the high stakes involved in the control of the energy companies.

The current contempt proceedings add another layer of legal complexity as the main suit continues at the Federal High Court.

This latest development is being closely monitored by stakeholders in Nigeria’s business and legal communities, as it touches on broader issues of corporate dispute resolution and the rule of law.