The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has reaffirmed its $100 million judgment against China National Petroleum Corporation, CNPC, in a dispute with Nigerian firm Cutra International Limited over Oil Prospecting Licence, OPL 471.
Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed delivered the ruling on April 24, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/136/2022, dismissing CNPC’s application to set aside the judgment entered on May 23, 2025.
CNPC had filed the application on October 28, 2025, but the court held there were no sufficient grounds to revisit its earlier decision.
The case arose from OPL 471, awarded by the Federal Government in 2006/2007 to CNPC and its Nigerian partner, Cutra International. Under the agreement, Cutra held a 10% equity stake.
Cutra alleged that CNPC returned the licence to the Federal Government without its consent, leading to loss of rights and expected benefits.
In the 2025 ruling, the court found for Cutra, noting that evidence showed the minimum value of the OPL’s yield was estimated at $5 billion — a claim CNPC did not challenge. Based on that uncontested evidence, the court awarded $100 million in damages.
Reaffirming the judgment, Justice Mohammed invoked the legal principle of functus officio stating that a court cannot reopen a matter once it has been decided except under legally recognised circumstances.
