Twin sisters Ameena and Zara Indimi have secured a landmark $43.51 million court ruling against their father, billionaire oil magnate Mohammed Indimi, following a protracted dispute over unpaid dividends.
The verdict has brought one of Nigeria’s wealthiest and most private business families into the public eye.
The Federal High Court ordered Oriental Energy, the oil firm controlled by Indimi, to pay the sisters the full sum.
Court filings revealed that Ameena and Zara argued their shareholdings had been reduced without their consent during a major dividend distribution, leaving them excluded from substantial payouts.
Jointly, the twins held a 10 per cent stake in Oriental Energy, entitling them to a portion of a $435 million dividend pool.
According to the sisters, their ownership was sharply cut without agreement, effectively blocking access to millions linked to the firm’s offshore operations.
In their submissions, they stated, “We were shut out of a huge dividend pool,” highlighting the scale of the financial stakes involved.
The ruling has transformed a previously private family disagreement into a high-profile legal matter, attracting attention due to both the size of the award and the prominence of the Indimi family in Nigeria’s oil sector.
Oriental Energy, a major private oil player, has historically maintained a low public profile, keeping ownership and financial details largely confidential.
Reports indicated that the dispute might extend beyond the twins, with other family members reportedly contesting ownership shares and whether prior payments were gifts or legitimate dividend entitlements.
Although the court did not disclose a detailed breakdown of the $43.51 million calculation or the payment timeline, the judgment affirmed the sisters’ legal claim, strengthening their position in the ongoing family and business negotiations.
Experts suggested that appeals or enforcement proceedings could prolong the case for months, but the ruling already marks a significant shift in the family’s internal dynamics.
The decision has drawn attention to the opacity of private business operations in Nigeria, highlighting how disputes over shares and dividends can rapidly escalate into major public and legal controversies.
