Case Details

Korea National Oil Corporation, KNOC Nigerian West Oil Company Limited, and KNOC Nigerian East Oil Company Limited v. Federal Republic of Nigeria (ICSID Case No. ARB/23/19)

Subject of Dispute:

Oil and gas enterprise
Economic Sector:

Oil, Gas & Mining
Instrument(s) Invoked:

BIT Nigeria - Korea, Republic of 1997
Applicable Rules:

ICSID Convention - Arbitration Rules

(a) Original Proceeding

Claimant(s)/Nationality(ies):

Korea National Oil Corporation (Korean), KNOC Nigerian West Oil Company Limited (Nigerian), KNOC Nigerian East Oil Company Limited (Nigerian)
Respondent(s):

Federal Republic of Nigeria (Nigerian)
Date Registered:

June 8, 2023
Date of Constitution of Tribunal:

September 8, 2023

Composition of Tribunal

President:

Gabrielle KAUFMANN-KOHLER (Swiss) - Appointed by the Parties
Arbitrators:

Klaus SACHS (German) - Appointed by the Claimant(s)
Loretta MALINTOPPI (Italian) - Appointed by the Respondent(s)

Party Representatives

Claimant(s):

Allen & Overy, London, U.K., Singapore and Hong Kong, China
Templars, Lagos, Nigeria
Respondent(s):

Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, Nigeria
White & Case, Paris, France and London, U.K.
Kunle Adegoke & Co, Lagos, Nigeria
Language(s) of Proceeding:

English
Status of Proceeding:

Pending
Latest Development:

December 1, 2025 - The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 4 concerning procedural matters.

(a) Original Proceeding

Published Decisions

Procedural Order No. 1

Procedural Order No. 2

Procedural Order No. 3

Available on the ICSID Website

Procedural Order No. 1 (November 7, 2023) English (Original)

Procedural Order No. 2 (October 14, 2024) English (Original)

Procedural Order No. 3 (September 17, 2025) English (Original)

(a) Original Proceeding

Date	Development
June 8, 2023	The Secretary-General registers a request for the institution of arbitration proceedings.
August 3, 2023	Following appointment by the Claimants, Klaus Sachs (German) accepts his appointment as arbitrator.
August 9, 2023	Following appointment by the Respondent, Loretta Malintoppi (Italian) accepts her appointment as arbitrator.
September 8, 2023	Following appointment by agreement of the parties, Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler (Swiss) accepts her appointment as presiding arbitrator.
September 8, 2023	The Tribunal is constituted in accordance with Article 37(2)(a) of the ICSID Convention. Its members are: Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler (Swiss), President, appointed by agreement of the parties; Klaus Sachs (German), appointed by the Claimants; and Loretta Malintoppi (Italian), appointed by the Respondent.
November 6, 2023	The Tribunal holds a first session by video conference.
November 7, 2023	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 1 concerning procedural matters.
March 4, 2024	The Claimants file a memorial on the merits.
July 18, 2024	The Respondent files a counter-memorial on the merits.
October 14, 2024	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 2 concerning production of documents.
January 17, 2025	The Claimants file a reply on the merits.
June 11, 2025	The Respondent files a rejoinder on the merits.
September 12, 2025	The Tribunal holds a pre-hearing organizational meeting with the parties by video conference.
September 17, 2025	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 3 concerning the organization of the hearing.
November 17, 2025 - November 25, 2025	The Tribunal holds a hearing on jurisdiction and the merits in Paris.
December 1, 2025	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 4 concerning procedural matters.