Court Dismisses $19.6 Million Lawsuit Against NNPCL

An Abuja Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has dismissed a $19.6 million lawsuit filed by Alternate Dimensions Ventures Limited against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), underscoring that written contracts cannot be altered by oral agreements or conduct.

The plaintiff sought $19.6 million in professional fees, alleging that the scope of its Direct Sale, Direct Purchase (DSDP e‑pro) contract with NNPCL had been expanded through oral arrangements.

Represented by counsel Patrick Peter, Alternate Dimensions claimed entitlement to the revised sum for services performed under the purported expanded terms.

NNPCL, represented by lawyer Ituah Imhanze, countered that parties are bound strictly by the clear terms of their written agreement. The defence argued that no written amendment existed to support the alleged expansion, a position the court accepted.

Justice Hamza Mu’azu delivered the judgment, stating that the contract terms were clear and unambiguous and that no evidence was presented to substantiate the alleged oral variation.

Consequently, the court dismissed the suit as lacking merit, reaffirming that any modification to a written contract must be expressly documented and cannot be implied or verbal.