Today, 22 January 2024, the Third Administrative Chamber of the Tripoli Court of Appeal took an important action in the ongoing high-profile litigation against NOC Chairman Farhat Bengdara.
Specifically, the Court granted an interim order freezing the implementation of a corporate directive issued by Mr. Bengdara until the court can rule on whether his appointment as NOC Chairman should be invalidated on the grounds of his alleged dual Libya-UAE citizenship.
A dual citizenship allegedly contravenes the Nationality Law (Law No. 24 of 2010) and the stipulations regarding public employment in Labour Relations Law (Law No. 12 of 2010). Both of these legal provisions, apparently, prohibit individuals with non-Libyan nationality from assuming public office or appointments.
The Court's ruling in this matter is seen as a testament to its willingness to thoroughly investigate the validity of the claims being made in this lawsuit, despite the NOC’s efforts to question the Court’s jurisdiction in this matter. The Court's proactive stance in this politically and security-sensitive context is deemed to underscore the surprising resilience and robustness of the Libyan judicial system.
It will be recalled that during local media appearances last year, Bengdara denied that he holds any other citizenships.
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