By Kingsley Adegboye

The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday clarified that AMNI International Petroleum Development Company Limited, is not in receivership, as the court adjourned proceedings in a dispute between the oil and gas company and Cenroc FPSO Solutions Nigeria Ltd. for ruling on an application for stay of execution.

The clarification on the Suit No: FHC/L/CS/1454/25, CENROC FPSO Solutions Nigeria Ltd. v. AMNI Int’l Petroleum Development Co. Ltd which came before Honourable Justice Aneke of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, was made during proceedings when counsel appearing in respect of the court-appointed Administrator initially announced representation as counsel to a receiver or receiver-manager.

The presiding judge promptly corrected the record, stating that no receiver or receiver-manager was appointed by the court, and that AMNI is not in receivership, emphasising that the appointment was limited strictly to an Administrator.

The matter came up for hearing of AMNI’s Motion for Stay of Execution following an earlier ruling appointing an Administrator in relation to claims arising from commercial contracts between the parties.

Counsel to AMNI informed the court that the company had filed a Notice of Appeal against the ruling and maintained that the underlying claims remain disputed. AMNI’s counsel argued that the dispute arose from commercial transactions in the ordinary course of business and did not amount to insolvency.

AMNI’s counsel further complained to the court that, despite having been served with a Notice of Appeal and an application for a stay of execution, the Administrator had taken steps towards enforcement of the ruling, including engaging law enforcement and writing to third parties, without recourse to the court’s bailiffs.

Following these complaints, the presiding judge specifically admonished the Administrator and his counsel, warning them to desist from taking any further enforcement or extra-judicial steps and to act strictly in accordance with the rules of court pending the determination of the application for stay of execution.

After hearing submissions from the parties, the court adjourned the matter to 26 February 2026 for a ruling on AMNI’s Motion for Stay of Execution.

In a further development, AMNI has since commenced contempt proceedings against the Administrator, citing alleged actions taken in defiance of the court’s warnings and notwithstanding the pendency of the Notice of Appeal and application for stay. The company maintains that no receivership exists, that no receiver has been appointed, and that it continues to exercise full control over its operations, which it says are running in the ordinary course of business.

When contacted for comments on the development, lawyers to AMNI declined to comment, stating that the matter is sub-judice and remains subject to adjudication by the court.