Nigeria Wins N4bn, €185.7m Arbitration After 18 Years

Nigeria has won a favourable final arbitral award issued on November 11, 2025, by a Tribunal constituted under the auspices of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre of the Federal High Court.

This was disclosed by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), via statement signed by his spokesman, Kamal Ogundele, on Friday.

According to the statement, the claimant (Fougerolle V Fougerolle) initiated the arbitration vide a Notice of Arbitration dated December 12, 2022, about 18 years after the subject contract was terminated by the claimant on January 30, 2004.

The case related to a contract dated March 31, 1981, between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a Joint Venture of Fougerolle Nigeria Ltd and Fougourolle SA (a French company), for construction of civil works in the Iron and Steel Complex at Ajaokuta in the then Kwara State.

Contrary to contract terms and Fougerolle’s undertaking, Fougerolle moved the Tribunal to compel additional payment of unverified and uncertified sums of N3,846,098,403.00 and €185,733,496.00.

Previously, the Federal Government engaged Messrs Price WaterCooperhouse to verify any indebtedness due to Fougerolle after terminating the contract. This led to payment of N3,894,600,000.00 to Fougerolle vide FGN Bonds on September 11, 2006. Fougerolle signed an indemnity on September 8, 2006, accepting the sum as full and final settlement. However, over 16 years after, Fougerolle brought the instant claim.

The Tribunal upheld the Federal Government’s preliminary objection challenging the competence of Fougerolle’s phantom claims principally on grounds of being statue barred, non-disclosure of reasonable cause of action as FGN bonds coupled with Fougerolle’s indemnity extinguished the debt, and absence of a competent claimant.

Notwithstanding, the Tribunal considered Fougerolle’s claim on the merit and held that Fougerolle failed to establish its case and had, indeed, waived all its rights to any other claim against the Federal Government because the payment made via FGN Bonds discharged the contractual obligation between the parties. The Tribunal rejected Fougerolle’s expropriation claim and the claim that it issued the indemnity under duress.

The entire case was eventually dismissed, thereby saving the Nigerian Government of over N4 billion liabilities. The case was defended by officers of the Federal Ministry of Justice in furtherance of the Attorney-General of the Federation’s commitment to boosting the capacity of Ministry officials to defend sensitive litigation and ADR matters in protecting Nigeria’s interest.

“This decision also underscores the current administration’s determination to challenge all predatory and opportunistic claims against Nigeria, while also emphasising government’s policy to promote ADR as a dispute resolution mechanism,” the statement said.