ABUJA, Nigeria — Mohammed Abacha, son of the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has initiated legal proceedings to appeal a recent judgment by the Court of Appeal, which dismissed his long-standing bid to reclaim ownership of Malabu Oil and Gas Limited.
Abacha, through his legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Reuben Atabo, has filed a motion on notice at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking leave to challenge the appellate court’s Friday, May 23, 2025, judgment before the Supreme Court.
The May 23 ruling had favoured Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited, allowing their appeal (marked: CA/ABJ/CV/53/2021) and dismissing Abacha’s suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/201/2012), which was instituted in the name of Malabu Oil and Gas.
The appellate court held that the suit was wrongly filed and therefore lacked merit.
In the fresh motion submitted on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, Malabu is seeking the Court of Appeal’s permission to appeal on grounds of mixed law and fact, as well as to raise new legal issues relating to several grounds listed in the proposed notice of appeal.
According to Atabo, the application is necessary because portions of the appeal touch on complex legal questions and newly introduced issues, which require judicial scrutiny by the apex court.
Abacha’s legal team argued that he is dissatisfied with the appellate decision and is determined to exercise his constitutional right to further appeal.
In a supporting affidavit, Edwin John, a representative of Malabu Oil and Gas, asserted that the issues raised in the proposed appeal are “substantial and arguable,” and that there is a “likelihood and real possibility” that the Supreme Court would overturn the appellate court’s decision.
“It will be in the interest of justice to grant this motion, especially as the respondents shall not in any way be prejudiced,” John stated.
He further warned that refusing the application could permanently deny Abacha the opportunity to seek legal redress at the Supreme Court.
The Malabu Oil case has long been mired in controversy, involving competing claims of ownership, accusations of corruption, and complex corporate manoeuvrings dating back over two decades.
This latest development signals that the legal battle over one of Nigeria’s most contentious oil assets is far from over.
