City Crime

Life Span Of An Ex-Parte Order

Published

5 years ago

October 28, 2020

Ex-Parte Order means a legal proceeding brought by one party in the absence of and without representation of or notification to the other party. Where an order is made on motion ex-parte, any party affected by it may within seven (7) days after the service of the order or within such further time as the court may allow apply to the court by motion, to vary or discharge it.
The life span of an ex-parte order is meant to be very short. It shall be made to end with the minimum delay, otherwise it shall stand vacated. An order made on motion ex-parte shall last for only 14 days after the party affected by the order has applied for the order to be varied or discharged, or last for another fourteen (14) days after application to vary or discharge it had been concluded. Where a motion to vary or discharge an ex-parte order is not taken within fourteen (14) days of its being filed, the ex-parte order shall automatically lapse. See ORDER 9 RULE 12 (1) and (2) OF THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT (CIVIL PROCEEDURE) RULES.
In Argiji Properties Ltd. V. Birni & Anor (2018) LPELR – 45858 (CA). The trial court failed to state the duration of the ex-parte order. By Order 9 Rule 12 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2000, an ex-parte order made under the rules shall not last for more than 14 days. Order 9 Rule 12 (1) Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules states, “No order made on a motion ex-parte shall last for more than 14 days after the party affected by the order has applied for the order to be varied or discharged or last for another 14 days after the application to vary or discharge it has been concluded.
Order 9 Rules 12 (2), “If a motion to vary or discharge an ex-parte order is not taken within 14 days of its being filed, the ex-parte order shall automatically lapse.” The rule is very clear that the said order shall not last for more than 14 days. The ex-parte order in the instant case was granted on the 6th of October 2006. The appellants motion for setting aside the ex-parte order was filed on 25th October, 2006 and by virtue of Order 9 Rule 12, the ex-parte Order lapsed on the 6th of November 2006. By provisions of Section 6 (6) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, an interim order is part of the inherent powers of the court to enhance the administration of justice and usually granted to protect a party’s existing legal right from invasion by another according to the Supreme Court in Akpo V. Ha-Kenna (1992) 6 NNLR (Pt 247) 266.
Accordingly, with all exercise of jurisdiction, the power must be exercised judicially and judiciously taking all relevant circumstance of the matter into consideration. When an exercise of discretion was done whimsically, the appellate court is entitled to interfere with such skewed exercise of discretion to right the wrong done. (Anaeze v. Anyaso (1993)5 NWLR (Pt 291)1. The ex-parte order made under whimsical exercise of discretion ought to be set aside. ‘Per Hassan J. C. A. (Pp21-24, Paras D-A).
Order 26 Rule 11 and 12 of Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009, provides that a person affected by an ex-parte order of injunction may within 7 days apply for the order to be discharged, upon such application the order shall not last for more than 14 days after the application has be argued. Ex-parte orders of injunction do not last Ad infinitum, generally it has a life span of a few days or as may be permitted by the rules of court. The court may in the interest of justice and upon an application extend the effective period of an interim order of injunction made ex-parte to last until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

Nkechi Bright-Ewere

City Crime

RSG Ready For 2030 Digital Transformation

Published

1 month ago

October 27, 2025

The Tide

The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Department, Mrs. Elizabeth Akani, has said the State Government was set to meet up the 2030 target of the Federal Government towards the actualization of digital economy.

Akani said this at the Rivers State Sensitization Workshops on The Adoption of Nigeria Start-up Act and National Digital Literacy framework (NDLF), in Port Harcourt, weekend.

She noted that the State was ready for both the adoption and domestication of the Act.

According to her, up to 90-95% preparation have been fully covered by the state in readiness to welcoming the digital economy Act.

“Stakeholders talked about adoption and domestication of the Act, it was fruitful. The draft has been sent to the government”, she said.

She also noted that the move was in line with the digital transformation plan of the state and the country at large.

The Convener, Start South, Mr. Uche Aniche, who made case for full ICT Ministry for the state, said such will command the needed growth in the system.

Aniche stated that until they attained the lofty height, all about Tech-knowledge and growth may not fall in place as expected.

Other tech-operators, such as the Code Garden Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wilfred Wegwu, who welcomed the idea, said it must be done in the nearest future.

Wegwu noted that technology has taken over the world at present, adding that government at all levels needed to key into the system.

He also stated that the system play major roles in various spheres of life, including relationships and collaboration.

He also revealed that the system now was up to forth Industrial Revolution (4IR), according to global shift ranking.

It will be recalled that the State Government has recently ordered to construct ICT centres across the 23 Local Government Area of the state in order to meet up the yearnings of the technology world.

By: King Onunwor

City Crime

Industry Braces For Glut And Investor Demands

Published

2 months ago

September 29, 2025

The Tide

The oil and gas industry is in for a tough year ahead, as it must balance financial discipline, shareholder returns, and long-term investments in the sustainability of the business—while navigating a hypothetical glut.

The warning comes from Wood Mackenzie, which said in a new report that the industry was faced with conflicting trends over the next year that would make decision-making challenging. Among these is an expectation that the market would tip into an oversupply, pressuring prices, while the demand outlook for oil over the long term brightens up, motivating more investments.

“Oil and gas companies are caught between competing pressures as they plan for 2026. Near-term price downside risks clash with the need to extend hydrocarbon portfolios into the next decade. Meanwhile, shareholder return of capital and balance sheet discipline will constrain reinvestment rates,” Wood Mackenzie’s senior vice president of corporate research, Tom Ellacott, said.

The executive added that investors would also influence decisions, as they continue to prioritize short-term returns over long-term investments. This last part, at least, is not unusual in the current investment environment across industries. It could, however, make life even more difficult for oil and gas companies for a while.

The glut that Wood Mackenzie analysts expect is the same glut that the International Energy Agency has been expecting for a while now. Yet that very same International Energy Agency earlier this month issued a warning on the longer-term security of global oil supply, saying the industry needed to step up investment in new production because natural depletion at mature fields was progressing faster than previously assumed.

Per the report, if the industry has to maintain current levels of oil and gas production, more than 45 million barrels per day of oil and around 2,000 billion cu m of natural gas would be needed in 2050 from new conventional fields. It’s worth noting that this is maintenance of current production levels, assuming demand will not rise, which is a risky assumption.

Even with projects ramping up and new ones approved for development and not yet in production, a large gap still exists “that would need to be filled by new conventional oil and gas projects to maintain production at current levels, although the amounts needed could be reduced if oil and gas demand were to come down,” the IEA said.

However, demand could just as well increase, heightening the degree of uncertainty in the industry and making long-term planning even more challenging—especially for companies with higher debt-to-equity ratios. Wood Mackenzie expects those with gearing of above 35% would prioritise resilience over long-term growth, while those with better debt positions would turn to divestments and asset acquisitions to improve the quality of their portfolio.

Share buybacks will also remain on the oil industry’s table as a favorite tool for making shareholders happy, although, Wood Mac notes, these tend to dry up when oil slips below $50 per barrel. Interestingly, the analytics company does not seem to factor into its analysis a scenario where prices might go up instead of down, especially now that President Trump has signaled he would be willing to step up pressure on Russia to bring a swifter end to the war in Ukraine.

If prices do rise, for whatever reason, including failure of the massive 3-million-bpd glut that the IEA predicted to materialize, then the immediate outlook for the oil and gas industry becomes different—but not too different. Companies have already demonstrated they would not return to their old ways of splurging when times were good and tightening belts when times were bad. They would likely stick to spending caution and shareholder return prioritization, regardless of prices.

By Irina Slav

City Crime

ECN Commences 7MW Solar Power Project In AKTH

Published

2 months ago

September 22, 2025

The Tide

As a landmark intervention designed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply, the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), has commenced a 7MW solar power project at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH)

The project is the outcome of ECN’s comprehensive energy audit and strategic planning, which exposed the unsustainable cost of diesel and the risks associated with AKTH’s dependence on the national grid.

Working in close collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology under the coordinating leadership of Chief Uche Nnaji, the ECN planned and executed this critical project to secure the hospital’s energy future.

The Director – General, ECN, Dr. Mustapha Abullahi, said “the timing of this intervention could not be more crucial” recalling that only days ago, AKTH suffered prolonged power outages that tragically claimed lives in its Intensive Care Unit.

“That painful incident has strengthened our resolve. With this solar installation, we are ensuring that such tragedies are prevented in the future and that critical medical services can operate without fear of disruption”.

Abdullahi stated that the project is a clear demonstration of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in action and reflects ECN’s commitment to making Nigeria’s energy transition people-centered, where hospitals, schools, and other essential institutions thrive on reliable, clean, and sustainable power.

The ECN boss further reaffirmed ECN’s commitment to continued deployment of innovative energy solutions across the nation.

“This is not just about powering institutions; it is about saving lives, restoring confidence, and securing a brighter future for Nigerians”, he stated.