The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered all parties involved in a dispute over four oil fields to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order on Monday while presiding over a suit filed by Hi-Rev Oil Limited and Hi-Rev Exploration and Production Ltd against the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
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The plaintiffs are seeking an interim injunction to stop the defendants from selling, assigning or allocating four oil fields—Yorla South in Rivers State; Akiapiri and Diebu Creek East in Bayelsa State; and Idiok in Akwa Ibom State pending the outcome of the suit.
According to the plaintiffs’ counsel, Ambrose Unaeze, the oil fields were meant to replace the Utapate Oil Field and OPL 2002, which were earlier allocated to the companies but later withdrawn by the Federal Government despite an existing settlement agreement adopted as a consent judgment.
When the case was heard, Unaeze informed the court that some defendants had just served him their processes and requested time to respond. He also urged the court to compel the defendants to refrain from taking any action that could affect the subject matter of the case.
While some defence lawyers opposed the request or said they lacked instructions, Justice Nwite ruled that all parties must maintain the status quo. The case was adjourned to January 26 for further hearing.
