Federal Republic of Nigeria v Process & Industrial Developments Ltd

Subject Matter

ARBITRATION — Appeal — Court’s jurisdiction — Company obtaining arbitral awards against state of Nigeria for repudiatory breach of contract — Nigeria applying to challenge awards on grounds of fraud and conduct contrary to public policy — Awards set aside and Nigeria awarded costs in sterling — Company seeking to appeal currency in which costs awarded — Whether leave of first instance court required — Arbitration Act 1996 (c 23), ss 67(4), 68(4)

[2024] EWCA Civ 790; [2025] 1 WLR 129; [2024] 2 Lloyd's Rep 53; [2024] WLR(D) 332, CA

COSTS — Order for costs — Currency — Company’s arbitral awards against state of Nigeria successfully challenged and set aside — Whether costs to be paid in sterling or Nigerian naira

[2024] EWCA Civ 790; [2025] 1 WLR 129; [2024] 2 Lloyd's Rep 53; [2024] WLR(D) 332, CA

ARBITRATION — Appeal — Permission to appeal — Claimant applying to set aside arbitration awards on grounds of serious irregularity — Judge granting application and awarding claimant costs of application to be paid in sterling — Defendant wishing to appeal against currency of costs order — Whether leave of judge required — Arbitration Act 1996 (c 23), ss 67(4), 68(4)

[2024] EWCA Civ 790; [2025] 1 WLR 129; [2024] 2 Lloyd's Rep 53; [2024] WLR(D) 332, CA

COSTS — Order for costs — Currency — Judge setting aside arbitration awards and awarding Nigerian claimant costs of application — Whether costs to be paid in sterling or Nigerian naira

[2024] EWCA Civ 790; [2025] 1 WLR 129; [2024] 2 Lloyd's Rep 53; [2024] WLR(D) 332, CA

COSTS — Order for costs — Currency — Judge setting aside arbitration awards and awarding Nigerian claimant costs of application — Whether costs to be paid in sterling or Nigerian naira — Senior Courts Act 1981 (c 54), s 51 — CPR r 44.2

[2025] UKSC 36; [2025] 3 WLR 681; [2025] WLR(D) 524, SC(E)

COSTS — Order for costs — Currency — Judge awarding costs of arbitration application to successful foreign claimant — Whether costs to be paid in sterling or foreign currency — Whether costs order intended to compensate receiving party for expenditure incurred — Senior Courts Act 1981 (c 54), s 51 — CPR r 44.2

[2025] UKSC 36; [2025] 3 WLR 681; [2025] WLR(D) 524, SC(E)

Appellate History