Ameena and Zara Indimi have won a $43.51 million court ruling against their father after a long-running fight over unpaid dividends, a decision that has now pushed one of Nigeria’s most influential business families into the spotlight.

A Federal High Court ordered Oriental Energy to pay the full amount to the pair, marking a major setback for billionaire oil magnate Mohammed Indimi and escalating a feud that has been simmering for years behind closed doors.

The dispute began when the twins said they were shut out of a huge dividend pool reportedly worth around $435 million. They argued they jointly held 10% of the company, giving them a right to part of the payout.

But they claimed their shareholdings were cut sharply without their agreement. Court filings show they believed those changes blocked them from receiving millions linked to the firm’s earnings from its offshore operations.

A private battle becomes very public

The court victory has turned what was once an internal family argument into public news, partly because of the sums involved and partly because of the businessman at the centre of it.

His company has long been a major private player in the country’s oil sector, and the family has often tried to keep business matters out of the public eye. But the ruling has deepened interest in the story and raised wider questions about how family-run firms manage ownership and decision-making.

Reports also suggest the disagreement has spread beyond the twins. Other relatives are said to be involved in ongoing arguments about which holdings belong to whom, and whether earlier payments to family members should count as gifts or buyouts that settle dividend rights.

A rare look inside a private empire

The case has shone a light on how little is publicly known about private companies in the country, where ownership decisions are often taken quietly and financial details are rarely shared.

The exact calculation behind the $43.51 million figure and the timeline for payment has not been fully detailed. But the order shows the judge found that money was owed, giving the sisters a stronger position as the dispute enters its next stage.

An appeal or enforcement fight could run for months. But the ruling has already changed the balance inside the family and inside the company. A disagreement that began over missing dividends has now become one of the most closely watched business disputes in the country. (Text, excluding headline: Business Insider Africa/The Africa Report)

Update news