ABUBAKAR DATTI YAHAYA, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This appeal is against the judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja delivered on 23rd August 2019 in Suit No, FHC/ABJ/CS/524/2019, wherein it held that the Respondent, which was the plaintiff at the trial Court, had satisfied the requisite conditions for the renewal of Oil Mining Licence (OML) II, and that the Appellants herein, ought to renew the said licence. Dissatisfied with that judgment, the Appellants filed this appeal.
The facts in brief, show that about seventeen Oil Mining Licences had been granted, including OML II by the Appellants. Initially, the licence was for thirty years issued in 1960. After the expiration of the thirty years, the licence was renewed for another thirty years, with effect from 1st July 1989, to expire on 30th June 2019. In October 2017, the Respondent applied for a renewal of the 17 Oil Mining Licences, including OML II, and paid the requisite application fees. In November 2018, the Depar…