Court Orders Status Quo in Oil Fields Dispute Pending Hearing
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered all parties in a high-stakes oil fields dispute to maintain the status quo as the matter proceeds toward adjudication. The ruling, delivered on Monday by Justice Emeka Nwite, affects four key oil fields, including Yorla South, Akiapiri, Diebu Creek East, and Idiok.
The order followed an application by Mr Ambrose Unaeze, representing plaintiffs Hi-Rev Oil Limited and Hi-Rev Exploration and Production Ltd, who are challenging the Federal Government’s alleged withdrawal and reallocation of these fields.
The suit, filed as FHC/ABJ/CS/2678/2025, names the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) as defendants.
The plaintiffs argued that the oil fields were previously promised as replacements for the Utapate Oil Field and OPL 2002, and substantial investments had been made in reliance on those allocations.
Unaeze told the court that any attempt by the defendants to reassign the blocks to third parties would undermine the companies’ legal rights, prompting the request for an interim injunction.
Although the court did not immediately grant the injunction, Justice Nwite instructed the parties to maintain the status quo on the disputed fields pending the hearing. The matter was adjourned to January 26 for further proceedings.
Defence counsels, including representatives of the AGF, NUPRC, and the Petroleum Minister, raised preliminary objections and counter-affidavits but were directed to comply with the court’s order not to alter the allocation or management of the affected oil blocks.
The ruling ensures that the contested fields remain untouched while the court considers the legality of the government’s prior allocations and the plaintiffs’ claims, underscoring the high stakes involved in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
