The Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa has adjourned to May 6 2026 for hearing on preliminary objections in a suit filed by the Ekpetiama Clan in Bayelsa State against Shell’s divestment of its onshore and shallow waters assets worth over two point four billion dollars in the Kingdom to Renaissance African Energy Limited.
The Monarch of Ekpetiama, King Bubaraye Dakolo in the suit alleges breach of the Petroleum Industry Act, Twenty-twenty-one by the company, demanding compensation of two to twelve billion dollars for environmental damage and decommissioning.
The suit which has seen multiple adjournments from May last year when it was first filed seeks to enforce the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 and set a precedent for corporate responsibility in the region.In the case, King Bubaraye Dakolo and the Ekpetiama Kingdom supported by civil society organisations as Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) highlights legal battles over the responsibility for environmental damage when multinational oil companies divest their assets.
Ekpetiama Kingdom plays host to the Gbarain-Ubie gas plant and Gbarain oilfields in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa and the people are seeking redress and remediation from Shell UK PLC, the parent company of SPDC for over 40 years operation resulting into pollution, gas flares, destruction of aquatic life, forests, farmlands and other sources of livelihood in the area.
Joined in the suit as defendants are the Attorney General of the Federation, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Minister of Petroleum Resources and Renaissance Energy Africa Limited.
At the resumption of the suit for hearing of preliminary objection, the trial judge, Justice Ayo Emmanuel adjourned the case to May 22 following an application by the Attorney General to excuse the absence of his counsel in Court.Lead Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Chuks Uguru, who opposed the request for adjournment by the Defence Counsel said legal jurisprudence should go beyond using technicalities to frustrate communities, expressing the hope that justice would eventually prevail.
The Monarch of Ekpetiama Kingdom, King Bubaraye Dakolo said the clan would not be deterred in pursuing its case to a logical conclusion.
‘Well, I can say I am disappointed that the court did not hear the matter today because the Attorney General did not show up despite having several lawyers. This is the tactics of the parties we are dealing with over the years. They try to wear you out but we are not deterred , we know this is the tactics but we are determined to go through the whole hog. We will continue, we will be here on May 6, 2026 and we will be alive to get judgment because no normal human being should accept the surreptitious way with which Shell disappeared from Ekpetiama Kingdom and brought in Renaissance without proper reference to what we represent as human beings. And so inspite of the destruction, the catastrophe they have caused in my Kingdom and to further compound it by disappearing and changing guard has to be challenged and that is what we are doing. And I know that at the end of the day the mill of justice will grind to our side and we shall win’
Resource Justice Manager at Social Action, Dr. Ekpere Edegbuo decried the frequent adjournments by the defendants, describing it as delay tactics.
‘What has happened here is unfortunate that the office of the Attorney General that is filled with a retinue of Lawyers can not appear in court today, asking for an adjournment. That I think is unprofessional. I think this is the game that office is playing with Shell, just delay tactics. And for communities who do not have the resources for this kind of case, often times, they just let go and this is how oil companies operating in the Niger Delta have been running away from their responsibilities and liabilities that they have left behind. The Nigerian government should show particular concern for the people and communities of the Niger Delta. We make bold to call on the office of the Attorney General to ensure that adequate arrangements are made to appear in the next adjourned date of May 6th’.
Counsel to Shell UK PLC, Mr. J.P Kudo had informed the court that the representative of the Attorney General had written to seek adjournment because he was engaged at the Court of Appeal.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has ordered all political appointees planning to run in the 2027 general elections to step down from their positions on or before March 31, 2026.
This was made known in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Eze Emu, who said the directive is in line with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, as well as the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for party primaries.
According to the statement, the directive covers all categories of political appointees intending to contest in the primaries or seek nomination for any elective office. Those affected include commissioners, advisers, directors-general, executive assistants, senior special assistants, special assistants, personal assistants to the governor, and other political appointees in the state.
It further stated that all concerned officials must submit their resignation letters through the Office of the SSG no later than the March 31 deadline. They are also required to hand over their duties to the Permanent Secretary or the most senior civil servant in their respective ministries, departments, and agencies.
The government urged all affected appointees to comply fully with the directive.
