Disobedience of Court in Nestoil Case: FBN Receiver, Sulu-Gambari, Slammed Contempt Notice

Abubakar Sulu-Gambari, SAN, a receiver in the Nestoil case, faces contempt of court charges for allegedly defying a Federal High Court order. The order, issued on December 1, 2025, mandated all parties to maintain the status quo and suspended the receiver's purported powers pending the determination of motions.

Despite the subsisting order, Sulu-Gambari issued public press releases on June 3 and 4, 2026, asserting his continued role as Receiver/Manager over Nestoil Limited and Neconde Energy Limited. He also warned the public against dealing with any other individual, actions described in the contempt notices as willful disobedience.

Legal analysts view Sulu-Gambari's actions as a deliberate and sustained challenge to the courts' authority. This comes after recent Supreme Court judgments on June 1, 2026, and April 10, 2026, which had previously set aside ex parte orders in favor of the receiver and questioned his authority to act while the suit filed by his appointors was under interrogation.

The contempt notice, a Form 48, was served on Sulu-Gambari in his office, citing Order IX, Rules 1-3 of the Judgement Enforcement Rules and Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Processes Act. The notice specifically references the Federal High Court's December 1, 2025 order, which commanded all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum and put the purported powers of the second defendant on hold.

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Take Notice that unless you stop further disobedience and comply with the direction contained in the order of the Federal High Court Abuja made on the December 1, 2025, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2369/2028 which ordered as follows: “That all parties in this suit are ordered to maintain the status quo ante bellum, pending the hearing and determination of the motions on notice, as the purported powers of the 2nd Defendant is hereby put on hold.”