An Abuja High Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), labeling the case as frivolous and lacking in merit.
The case, instituted by the Registered Trustees of Trust Field Empowerment Initiatives, sought to compel the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to prosecute Komolafe within 30 days over alleged irregularities in the award of oil blocks and the fixing of signature bonuses. The NUPRC and the AGF were also listed as co-defendants.
In a judgment delivered on Friday, July 18, 2025, Justice H. Muazu struck out the suit, citing Section 251(1)(a) and (n) of the 1999 Constitution, which confers exclusive jurisdiction on the Federal High Court to hear matters concerning federal revenue, oil, and natural resources.
Defendants Awarded ₦9 Million Costs
Legal teams representing the defendants — led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN) for the AGF, Oladele Gbadeyan for Komolafe, and Chief Chiesonu Okpoko (SAN) for the NUPRC — argued that the case was an abuse of court process aimed at embarrassing the NUPRC boss. They had requested ₦100 million in damages.
While the court declined the ₦100m claim, Justice Muazu awarded ₦3 million each to the three defendants, totaling ₦9 million, against the claimant.
“The suit is frivolous and without merit,” the judge ruled, effectively ending what legal experts have described as a poorly grounded legal action.
