Court warns Access Bank, First Bank, Zenith MDs of possible jail over alleged disobedience

The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued strong warnings to First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Access Bank Plc, and Zenith Bank Plc, placing their Managing Directors on notice that they could be jailed for allegedly disobeying a subsisting court order.

The warnings were issued through a series of Form 48 Notices of Consequences of Disobedience to Court Order, linked to an interim directive given on November 6, 2025, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2369/2025.

The case involves a major dispute over an onshore oil asset and the FSO Ugo Ocha, connected to interests in the OML 42 Joint Venture, where the Federal Government holds 55 percent ownership.

Form 48 notices dated November 13, 2025, were served on the Managing Director of First Bank at both the bank’s Marina Head Office in Lagos and its Abuja main branch on Muhammadu Buhari Way.

In the notices, the court reminded the banks that it had issued a directive instructing all parties to maintain the status quo, warning that any action taken against the court’s order could amount to contempt.

The warning read, “Unless you stop further disobedience and comply with the direction contained in the order… you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.” A copy of the original order was attached to show the seriousness of the directive.

The order stated, “The ex-parte application for Interim Injunction is hereby refused. The Court hereby directs all parties to maintain the status quo as at today, the 6th day of November 2025.

Parties are ordered not to deal with the subject matter of the litigation pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction. The Motion on Notice shall be served on the Defendants/Respondents before the next adjourned date.”

The suit was filed by Neconde Energy Limited, White Dove Shipping Company Limited, and others, against First Bank, Access Bank, and five additional defendants.

The issuance of Form 48 marks the first stage of contempt proceedings. The notices, served between November 7 and 13, 2025, warned that any actions taken in violation of the court’s instruction to preserve the status quo would amount to contempt.

The court has fixed December 4, 2025, for the hearing of the motion for interlocutory injunction and has cautioned that any breach of its directive before that date will attract serious legal consequences.

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