A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has directed all parties involved in a dispute over four oil fields to maintain the current situation until the case is fully heard and decided.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on Monday following an application by two energy companies, Hi-Rev Oil Limited and Hi-Rev Exploration and Production Ltd, who asked the court to prevent any action that could alter the subject of the lawsuit.
The suit, filed under number FHC/ABJ/CS/2678/2025, lists the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri; the Attorney-General of the Federation; and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) as defendants.
At the hearing, counsel to the plaintiffs, Ambrose Unaeze, told the court that some of the defendants had only recently served their responses, including counter-affidavits and preliminary objections, and requested time to reply. He also urged the court to compel the defendants to refrain from any steps that could affect the oil fields while the case is pending.
The companies are asking the court to stop the sale, allocation, or reassignment of four oil assets: Yorla South in Rivers State, Akiapiri and Diebu Creek East in Bayelsa State, and Idiok in Akwa Ibom State. They argue that these fields were meant to compensate them for earlier oil assets Utapate Oil Field and OPL 2002 which were initially allocated to them but later withdrawn by the Federal Government.
According to the plaintiffs, a settlement agreement was reached with the government to provide replacement oil fields, and this agreement was adopted as a consent judgment. They also claim to have taken significant steps, including financial commitments, toward operating the licences and establishing a refinery.
Representing the Attorney-General’s office, Oyinlade Koleoso stated that although court processes had been filed, the AGF does not have the authority to allocate oil blocks. Counsel for the NUPRC opposed the application, while the lawyer representing the petroleum minister said he had no instruction to give the undertaking requested by the plaintiffs.
In response, Justice Nwite stressed that once a matter is before the court, parties are expected to preserve the situation as it is. He subsequently granted the application and ordered all sides to maintain the status quo until the case is resolved.
The court adjourned the matter to January 26, 2026, for further hearing.
