Lagos Maritime Company Launches Lawsuit Against Government Officials
Sea Delights Marine Recage Limited, a Lagos-based maritime firm, has initiated a significant legal action at the Federal High Court in Lagos. The lawsuit targets the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Chief of Naval Staff, and the Nigerian Navy, contending that they obstructed the lawful acquisition of a vessel purchased through a court-ordered auction.
The case, marked FHC/L/CS/793/2026, also lists the Chief Recorder and the Deputy Chief Recorder (Admiralty) of the Federal High Court as the first and second defendants. The lawsuit was filed by the firm’s attorney, Benjamin Satie.
In this suit, the plaintiffs are seeking a total of NOK 771 million, which encompasses the vessel’s purchase price, damages, legal fees, and other related costs. Sea Delights Marine Recage Limited asserts that it paid NOK 130 million for the vessel MT Dejikun in July 2024. However, the company claims it has been denied possession due to unlawful interference from the AGF and the Nigerian Navy, as well as disobedience of court orders.
Among the various remedies sought, the company is requesting a court declaration stating that the Chief Registrar and Deputy Chief Registrar violated the sales contract by failing to deliver the vessel post-auction. The firm also seeks acknowledgment that the actions of the AGF, Chief of Naval Staff, and Nigerian Navy in preventing the ship’s seizure were severe violations of existing court directives.
Furthermore, the plaintiffs are asking the court to rescind the sales contract due to the non-delivery of the vessel and the resulting deterioration and loss of value. They are requesting the court to suspend the auction sale, claiming that the defendants’ inability to transfer ownership results from external interference. Additionally, the company is seeking a refund of the NOK 130 million purchase price, along with interest from July 11, 2024, until the final ruling.
The lawsuit outlines that the company demands NOK 500 million in punitive damages for the wrongful denial of possession, alongside NOK 10 million in legal costs. The managing partner, Bukoye Omoyemi, noted that the vessel had been sold following a Maritime Division court order dated July 3, 2023, aimed at preventing further deterioration after years of detention at the Kirikiri anchorage of the Nigerian Navy in Lagos.
Despite the court order, which requested naval assistance for the evaluation and sale of the vessel, the Nigerian Navy denied subsequent requests for assistance in taking possession. It insisted that directives were to come through the Office of the Attorney General. Communications revealed that the AGF instructed the Navy not to release the ship, pending a confiscation application. However, this application had been dismissed by Judge Yerim Bogoro on February 10, 2026, with an explicit order for the vessel’s immediate release.
The defendants have claimed non-compliance with this court order. Sea Delights asserts that the vessel has significantly deteriorated and lost substantial value due to prolonged exposure and lack of access. The company has been left without capital for nearly two years, leading to considerable financial losses and missed business opportunities.
The plaintiffs argue that the ongoing refusal to release the vessel constitutes a fundamental breach of contract, rendering the transaction void. They also ask the court to inspect the vessel to assess its condition. As of the time of this report, the defendants have yet to respond, despite the ongoing legal proceedings. Justice Ayokunle Fazi has scheduled the hearing for June 15, 2026.
