The Federal High Court in Abuja has declined an ex-parte application seeking to restrain the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, and other government agencies from allocating some oil fields.
Justice Emeka Nwite, sitting as a vacation judge, ruled that the respondents must first be put on notice before the court could consider granting the reliefs sought by the applicants.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite directed the respondents to appear before the court and show cause why the application should not be granted.
He subsequently adjourned the matter to January 5 for hearing.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2678/2025, was instituted by Hi-Rev Oil Limited and Hi-Rev Exploration and Production Ltd. The respondents include the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Applicants Seek Injunction Over Disputed Oil Fields
The ex parte motion, dated December 11 and moved by counsel to the applicants, Mr Ambrose Unaeze, sought an interim injunction restraining the defendants from selling, assigning, or allocating the Yorla South oil field (PPL 2A32 – OML 11) in Rivers State.
The applicants also asked the court to stop the allocation of Akiapiri (PPL 2A48 – OML 25) and Diebu Creek East (OML 32) in Bayelsa State, as well as Idiok (PPL 2A41 – OML 67) in Akwa Ibom State. They claimed the oil fields were meant to replace the Utapate Oil Field and OPL 2002, earlier allocated to them but later withdrawn by the Federal Government.
Firms Cite Consent Judgment, Allege Financial Loss
In support of the application, the companies argued that the withdrawal of the oil fields violated a settlement agreement earlier reached with the government and adopted by the court as a consent judgement.
In an affidavit, the firms’ director, Chief Felix Ezeamama, stated that the companies won the bid for OPL 2002 in 2007 and later resolved disputes arising from the allocation through an out-of-court settlement in 2015.
He said the agreement confirmed the firms as rightful winners of OPL 2002 and also provided for the issuance of a 50,000 barrels-per-day modular refinery licence in Akwa Ibom State.
According to him, the companies made part payment of the signature bonus and submitted engineering designs for the refinery, which were approved by the relevant authorities.
Ezeamama alleged that despite repeated assurances, the defendants failed to allocate alternative oil fields of equivalent value and warned that the companies would suffer irreparable financial loss if the disputed fields were allocated to third parties.
Justice Nwite, however, held that the matter required a hearing with all parties present and declined to grant the interim orders sought without notice.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
