Bates White client Federal Republic of Nigeria wins arbitral award challenge
Partner Glenn R. George testified at trial on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Nigeria v. P&ID, a matter in the High Court of England and Wales. The case involved Nigeria’s attempt to overturn an $11 billion award made in P&ID’s favor in a prior international arbitration matter. Dr. George’s testimony addressed the financeability of an abandoned and allegedly fraudulent effort to fund and build a natural gas processing plant in Nigeria. The matter garnered significant media attention, including in Bloomberg, Reuters, The Guardian, Law360, and various news outlets in Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa.
In October 2023, the High Court upheld Nigeria’s challenge. In his decision, Justice Robin Knowles acknowledged “evidence from expert witnesses … of true distinction, experience, and expertise.” In December 2023, the judge refused to hear an appeal to his ruling, closing one of the most high-profile disputes in the arbitration field.