JOSEPH EYO EKANEM, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The respondent entered into a share loan agreement with appellant for the acquisition of stocks of quoted companies as approved by the respondent. The transaction went sour resulting in the Abuja Multi-Door Courthouse appointing one Engineer Ononbhara Odigie as the sole arbitrator to arbitrate in the dispute between the parties. The appointment was subsequently agreed to and confirmed by the parties at a preliminary meeting held on 17/8/2009.
The sole arbitrator made his award in favour of the respondent. The award is dated 28/2/2010. The award was however published or made known to the appellant on 6/5/2010. Aggrieved by the award the appellant commenced Suit No.FHC/HC/CV/1786/10 at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja (the that Court for short) by an application pursuant to Section 30 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1988. It sought for a setting aside of the award on the ground that the arbitrator…