Nigeria Wins First Round in Bid to Overturn UK Court’s $15 Million Judgment

Court Dismisses Motion to Strike Out Fraud Allegations

The Nigerian government has secured an initial victory in its legal battle to set aside a 2018 default judgment ordering it to pay $15 million to British-Nigerian businessman Louis Emovbira Williams. The London High Court has dismissed Williams’ attempt to strike out the government’s fraud claims.

The Legal Battle

In court documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES, Justice Henshaw of the High Court of Justice, Business and Property Courts of England and Wales ruled that Nigeria’s fraud allegations against Williams warrant a full hearing. The government and former Attorney General Clement Akpamgbo (1991-1993) argue the original judgment was obtained fraudulently.

Williams had sought to have the government’s claim dismissed, calling it an “abuse of process” and a “collateral attack” on previous judgments. However, Justice Henshaw concluded: “The present claim does not offend the principles referred to above, and should be allowed to proceed.”

Case Background

The dispute stems from a 1986 undercover operation involving Williams’ company, Pearl Konsults Limited. Williams claims he:

• Issued a personal guarantee for a food importation deal
• Lost $6.5 million when Nigerian authorities froze related accounts
• Had ₦5 million seized from his Nigerian bank accounts

The Nigerian government acknowledges freezing Pearl Konsults’ accounts but disputes Williams’ version of events, particularly regarding the personal guarantee and banker’s drafts.

The Fidelity Guarantee Controversy

A key document in the case is the so-called “Fidelity Guarantee” allegedly signed by former military president Ibrahim Babangida in 1993, ordering the Central Bank of Nigeria to compensate Williams.

While Williams claims to have discovered this document in 2011 among state papers, Nigerian authorities question its authenticity. Despite these doubts, a 2012 judgment allowed Williams to pursue claims based on this document.

Recent Developments

The current proceedings focus on whether Williams:

• Fabricated documents to obtain the 2018 default judgment
• Misrepresented the existence of personal guarantees and banker’s drafts
• Relied on questionable documentation to support his claims

Justice Henshaw noted: “The Claimants’ case is effectively a strong one and their pursuit of the current claim is not an abuse of process.”

What Comes Next

The case will proceed to full trial, where both parties will present evidence regarding the alleged fraud. The outcome could have significant implications for:

• Nigeria’s efforts to overturn the $15 million judgment
• Future cases involving historical financial claims against the government
• International perceptions of Nigeria’s legal system

This development follows Nigeria’s similar efforts to overturn the $11 billion P&ID judgment, showing the government’s increased vigilance in challenging foreign court rulings.

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