Nigeria, Jan. 12 -- The Supreme Court on Monday dealt a significant setback to Nestoil Limited, Neconde Energy Limited, and oil magnates Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi and Nnenna Obiejesi, ordering all parties to return to the Court of Appeal for resolution of a critical procedural issue.

In a ruling delivered by a five-member panel of the apex court, presided over by Justice Inyang Okoro, the justices directed the Court of Appeal to first determine the controversy surrounding legal representation in the matter before reporting back to the Supreme Court on 26 January 2026.

Other justices on the panel were Justice Haruna Jauro, Justice Helen Ogunwumiju Sankey, Justice Mohammed Adumehin and Justice Sadiq Umar, all of whom concurred with the lea...