The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, alongside other parties, to refrain from taking further action in a dispute involving four oil fields until the case is fully heard and determined.
The directive was issued by Justice Emeka Nwite following an application brought before the court by legal counsel to Hi-Rev Oil Limited and Hi-Rev Exploration and Production Ltd, the companies challenging the proposed allocation of the oil fields.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2678/2025, also lists the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) as defendants.
According to court proceedings, the plaintiffs are seeking protection over oil assets located across Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states, including Yorla South, Akiapiri, Diebu Creek East and Idiok. The companies argued that these fields were designated as replacements for assets earlier allocated to them but later withdrawn by the Federal Government.
Justice Nwite recalled that the court had earlier directed the defendants to explain why the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs should not be granted. This followed a motion filed by the companies in December 2025, requesting an interim injunction to stop the sale or reassignment of the disputed oil fields to third parties.
The plaintiffs maintained that they had reached a settlement agreement with the government over the replacement of previously withdrawn oil assets, which was adopted by the court as a consent judgment. They further claimed to have made significant financial and operational commitments toward the development of the oil licences and a proposed refinery project.
During the resumed hearing, counsel to the plaintiffs informed the court that the defendants had recently filed their responses, including counter affidavits and preliminary objections, and requested time to study and reply to the filings.
He also urged the court to compel the defendants to formally undertake not to alter the status of the oil fields while the case is pending, citing the risk of irreversible actions before the next hearing date.
While lawyers representing the AGF and NUPRC opposed the request, arguing that their filings sufficiently addressed the issues raised, counsel to the petroleum minister said he lacked direct instructions from his client to make such an undertaking.
In response, Justice Nwite stressed that once a matter is before the court, all parties are expected to avoid actions that could prejudice the case.
He subsequently granted the application and ordered all parties to maintain the current state of affairs regarding the oil fields.
The case has been adjourned until January 26, 2026, for further hearing.
