Federal High Court officials have commenced enforcement proceedings against properties linked to the Chairman of Rahamaniyya Group of Companies, Alhaji Abdulrahman Musa Bashar, following a court-backed effort to recover an estimated $40 million debt owed to Petrichor Energy FZCO.
The enforcement exercise, carried out on Wednesday in Lagos and Abuja, marks a major step in a prolonged international commercial dispute involving petroleum product transactions and a judgment obtained in the United Kingdom.
According to court documents, the Federal High Court in Lagos granted Petrichor Energy permission on February 25, 2026, to register and enforce a judgment earlier delivered by the High Court of Justice of England and Wales against Bashar and Ultimate Oil & Gas FZCO.
Subsequently, writs of attachment and sale were issued on May 15, authorising the seizure and disposal of assets belonging to the judgment debtors to satisfy the outstanding obligation.
Court enforcement officials served and pasted legal notices at several properties associated with Bashar in both Lagos and Abuja. However, the process reportedly encountered resistance at a property located on Logone Close, Maitama, Abuja.
During the exercise, Bashar’s legal representative, Mohammed Sheriff, questioned the enforcement action, arguing that officials lacked the necessary Nigerian court documents to proceed. He also maintained that discussions aimed at resolving the matter amicably were ongoing and disclosed that a payment of ₦1 billion had recently been made as part of settlement efforts.
The dispute stems from a series of petroleum supply transactions conducted between 2022 and 2023. Petrichor Energy, formerly known as CE Energy DMCC, supplied gasoil and Jet-A1 aviation fuel to Ultimate Oil & Gas under commercial agreements that later became the subject of legal action.
Following proceedings in the United Kingdom, the English High Court entered judgment against Ultimate Oil & Gas and Bashar, who was said to have provided a guarantee for the transactions. The court awarded approximately $40.2 million in favour of Petrichor Energy.
In addition to the monetary judgment, a worldwide freezing order covering assets in Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and France was reportedly granted to prevent the dissipation of assets pending debt recovery.
The latest enforcement action underscores the growing trend of cross-border commercial judgments being recognised and enforced within Nigeria, particularly in cases involving substantial international business obligations. As legal proceedings continue, attention will remain on whether the parties can reach a settlement or whether the attached assets will ultimately be sold to satisfy the judgment debt.
