NGO Faults London Court’s Order Stopping Firms From Suing Shipping Giant In Nigeria

YENAGOA – A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Citizens Whistleblowers Coalition (CWC), has raised the alarm over an injunctive order issued by a court in London stopping litigations in Nigeria against the shipping giant, MSC Mediterranean Company S.A. (MSC) for services rendered by the company within the country. 

A copy of the exclusive injunction dated December 29, 2024 and issued by Hon. Mrs. Justice Dias of the High Court of Justice, Business and Property Courts of England and Wales; Commercial Court (KBD), said “Until the return date or further order, the defendants shall not commence, bring, continue or prosecute any claims, actions or proceedings relating to the disputes against the Claimants (or against “Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A.”) in any court or tribunal, including without limitation any court or tribunal in Nigeria, except in the Courts of England and Wales. 

The order also provided that the defendant shall not “oppose any application made by the claimants to stay the Nigerian proceedings or to adjourn any hearing or procedural deadline in the Nigerian Proceedings”. 

The court also ordered that the defendants shall not “commence, bring, continue or prosecute any claims, actions or proceedings that seek to restrain or require termination of or impose sanctions upon or otherwise interfere with the first claimant’s pursuit of its claims before this court in relation to the disputes”. 

But the CWC in a press statement on Sunday, signed by its Head, Research and Monitoring, Nafiu Ibrahim, said the anti-suit injunction stopped Nigerian companies from litigating admiralty matters against MSC in Nigeria. 

The NGO clarified that the MSC was basically asserting in London that they could not be sued in Nigerian court for infractions arising from shipping services rendered to Nigerians in Nigeria.