The Supreme Court has overturned several orders issued by the Court of Appeal in the long-running $1.1 billion dispute involving Nestoil and Neconde Energy, saying the lower court went beyond its powers.

A five-member panel of the apex court in Abuja ruled unanimously that the Appeal Court wrongly granted sweeping orders without hearing all sides properly. The justices said the reliefs given were similar to an injunction and should not have been approved through an ex parte application, which is typically done without all parties present.

The court also stressed that the Court of Appeal acted without proper jurisdiction at the time, explaining that simply filing a notice of appeal does not automatically give an appellate court authority to take over a case.

As part of its decision, the Supreme Court nullified orders that had paused proceedings at the trial court and other related directives affecting both Nestoil and Neconde. The disputed orders had remained in place for about 186 days before being struck out.

The ruling effectively resets that stage of the case, clearing away the earlier appellate orders that had disrupted proceedings in the lower court.

Beyond the technical legal issues, the judgment is seen as a strong reminder about how court powers should be exercised, especially regarding emergency or interim orders. Legal analysts say it reinforces the need for fairness and proper procedure in handling commercial disputes.

The dispute, which has drawn attention in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, has involved multiple court actions, receivership-related controversies, and conflicting rulings that created uncertainty for the companies involved.

With the Supreme Court’s decision, attention now shifts back to the trial court as the case continues under clearer judicial direction.