A road in Lagos leads toward UBA House, the headquarters tower of United Bank for Africa (file photo, 2019). (Photo: Johnbrainyvisuals, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

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NIGERIA · BUSINESS

A Lagos court has granted a UBA asset order in a fuel dispute worth N242 million (about US$183,000). TheCable, a Nigerian news site, reported the ruling on Thursday 22 October 2026, and we found no second outlet with it.

United Bank for Africa, known as UBA, is one of Nigeria’s biggest banks and is listed on the Nigerian Exchange. An asset order is an early ruling that stops a defendant from moving money out of reach while a lawsuit runs.

What the Lagos High Court Ordered

The asset order rests on three requests from UBA, which TheCable says include stopping the dissipation of assets and restricting dealings with funds. TheCable quoted the ruling as saying the three prayers are granted against the second respondent only.

A prayer is the formal name for what a party asks a court to order. The bank cited Order 43 Rule 1 of the Lagos High Court civil rules of 2019 and the court’s Practice Direction No. 2 of 2019.

How the Fuel Cargo Went Missing, According to UBA

UBA says it issued a letter of credit, a bank’s written promise to pay a seller once goods ship, in favour of Vitol SA. Vitol is a Switzerland-based energy trader, and it allegedly endorsed the bills of lading, the shipping papers that prove who owns a cargo, to UBA.

That gave the bank a right to the cargo once the voyage ended. Anthony Chilaka, UBA’s group head of recoveries, said in a sworn statement that the bank never received the gasoil despite the completed voyage.

The gate and signboard of the High Court of Lagos State at Igbosere on Lagos Island (file photo, December 2024). (Photo: King ChristLike, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Who Is Involved and What the Bank Wants

UBA says the cargo was diverted to another party. It wants conversion, misrepresentation and negligence examined, and conversion means treating someone else’s property as your own.

TheCable named Vitol SA but did not name the four shipping companies. The ruling applies to the second respondent only, and the report does not say which party holds that place.

Why UBA Cited 34 Banks and Agencies

UBA’s application cited 34 financial institutions and public bodies, including commercial, merchant and microfinance banks. TheCable said the list includes the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigeria Customs Service, which control ships and cargo at the country’s ports.

TheCable did not name the individual banks. Citing them would let a court tell those institutions not to release a defendant’s funds.

A Small Claim for a Large Bank

The N242 million (about US$183,000) at stake is tiny next to UBA’s 2025 net profit of N404.7 billion (about US$305 million). The Rio Times profile of United Bank for Africa Plc shows a bank in 20 African countries that earns fees from trade finance.

The case matters less for the money than for trade finance, where banks pay out on paperwork before a cargo arrives. Nigerian bank profits fell 16% in 2025, as the Rio Times reported in Nigeria’s Banks Lose Their Crown as Profits Fall 16%.

What It Means for US Readers

Investors in African bank stocks may see the UBA asset order as a small recovery action next to the bank’s profit. UBA also operates in the United States and finances trade for Nigerian importers and exporters.

Fuel traders and shipowners dealing with Nigerian banks should note that a letter of credit can still end in court if a cargo goes missing. A Lagos court will act early to protect assets in a trade dispute.

What Is Not Known

TheCable did not give the case number, a calendar date for the ruling or the date of the next hearing. It said only ‘last Thursday’, which would be 15 October if counted from its 22 October report.

Vitol SA and the four shipping companies have not been quoted in the report, so their account of the cargo is not known. Nothing in the ruling finds anyone liable, because the court has only granted an early order and has not tried the claims.

More: Nigeria news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the Lagos court order in the UBA case?

The Lagos High Court granted UBA’s request to preserve assets up to the disputed N242 million (about US$183,000). The order applies against the second respondent only.

Who is UBA?

United Bank for Africa is a Nigerian bank founded in 1949 and listed on the Nigerian Exchange. It operates in 20 African countries and has offices in the United States, Britain, France and the United Arab Emirates.

Who is Vitol SA?

TheCable describes Vitol SA as a Switzerland-based energy trading company. UBA says it issued a letter of credit in Vitol’s favour for the cargo, and the report does not say whether the order covers Vitol.

What is an asset order?

An asset order, also called a preservation order, is an early ruling that stops a party moving money while a case is heard. It does not decide who is right.

Has the court found anyone at fault?

No, the court has not decided the claims of conversion, misrepresentation and negligence, and the order is only interim. UBA’s version of events comes from its sworn statement.

How much is the dispute in US dollars?

N242 million (about US$183,000) is the disputed sum, at 1,325 naira to the US dollar on 23 October 2026. The prayers granted relate to funds up to that amount.

Sources: TheCable, Court grants UBA’s request to preserve assets in petroleum products dispute with Switzerland firm, 22 October 2026; Rio Times, United Bank for Africa Plc company profile, 23 October 2026.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief

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