Nigeria, July 12 -- Indications emerged Thursday that JP Morgan Chase will appeal a court decision that dismissed its motion to halt its prosecution by the Nigerian government last February.

Details of the development were contained in a skeleton argument presented by the Nigerian government through its lawyers during a case management hearing at a London High Court on Thursday.

Last February, a High Court in London had dismissed a motion filed by the U.S. firm to halt its prosecution by the Nigerian government over the Malabu oil scandal.

In a ruling, the judge, Andrew Burrows, held that the American investment/finance firm "owed Nigeria a duty of care; as indicated by an implied term in the written agreement". "The duty of care was n...