The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday struck out the suit filed by the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) against Eroton Exploration and Production Limited.
It confirmed that the company had fully settled its outstanding tax liabilities, thereby extinguishing the basis of the action.
In a ruling delivered in suit FHC/L/CS/2499/2025, the court also vacated the earlier interim orders which led to the appointment of an administrator over Eroton, effectively bringing the contentious administration process to an end.
Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), leading Victor Chukwumah and David Nwobike of Osborne Law Practice, appeared for Eroton and Bilton Energy Limited, while Jubril Kareem represented the LIRS.
Counsel to the interim administrator, Sesugh Famave, appeared with Ogunwole Ebenezer, and Kehinde Sanwade, with Adesewa Mojeed, represented a party seeking to be joined in the suit.
Famave urged the court to adjourn proceedings pending the determination of a motion for joinder filed by the interested party.
The application was supported by counsel to the joinder applicant.Eroton’s legal team strongly opposed the request, arguing that it amounted to an abuse of court process.
They drew the court’s attention to an unchallenged affidavit of settlement, accompanied by a letter from the office of the Lagos State Attorney General, confirming that the company had fully liquidated its indebtedness to the LIRS and that the tax authority no longer had any subsisting claim.
