Breach of Contract: Court awards 10m damages against Unity Bank, Heritage Bank

Published By Auwal Ahmad On Aug 16, 2021

By Eloyi Matthew

The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division has affirmed the judgment of Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos high court, which ordered Unity Bank Plc and Heritage Bank Plc to pay a firm, Shield Petroleum Nigeria Limited the sum of N10 million as damages.

Justice Ogala had in her judgment delivered on January 19, 2018, in a suit filed by Shield Petroleum Nigeria Limited against Unity Bank and Heritage bank ordered the two banks to pay the claimants N10 million as general damages for breach of contract.

Dissatisfied, Unity bank lodged an appeal and urged the court to determine whether the court has jurisdiction to entertain the suit and whether there was a valid and enforceable contract.

However, the Appellate Court in its lead judgement delivered by Justice E. O William-Dawodu dismissed the appeal and affirmed the judgement of the lower court in its entirety.

Other members of the panel, namely Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani and Justice Mahmoud Bayero consented to the judgement.

Justice William-Dawodu held that the lower court had jurisdiction to entertain the suit in Lagos even though the subject in dispute is located in Oghara, Delta state.

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