Court Orders Parties to Maintain Status Quo On Four Oil Fields

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday directed the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, and other parties in a suit concerning four oil fields to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the case.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order after counsel to the plaintiffs, Ambrose Unaeze, moved an application requesting that the defendants be restrained from taking any steps that could affect the subject matter of the suit.

The plaintiffs, Hi-Rev Oil Limited and Hi-Rev Exploration and Production Ltd, filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2678/2025 against the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

Earlier, on December 22, 2025, the court had directed the defendants to show cause why the reliefs sought in the plaintiffs’ ex parte motion should not be granted. The plaintiffs are seeking an interim injunction to restrain the defendants from selling, assigning or allocating Yorla South (PPL 2A32 – OML 11) in Rivers State; Akiapiri (PPL 2A48 – OML 25) and Diebu Creek East (OML 32) in Bayelsa State; as well as Idiok (PPL 2A41 – OML 67) in Akwa Ibom State.

The companies argued that the four oil fields were designated as replacements for the Utapate Oil Field, formerly part of OML 13, and OPL 2002, which were initially allocated to them but later withdrawn by the Federal Government.

Unaeze told the court that the plaintiffs had entered into a settlement agreement with the government for the replacement of the Utapate Oil Field, which was accepted and adopted as a consent judgment. He said the companies had taken significant steps and provided consideration towards obtaining oil prospecting licences and establishing a petroleum refinery.

When the matter was called, Unaeze informed the court that the first and third defendants had just served him with their memorandum of conditional appearance, counter-affidavit and preliminary objection, and requested time to respond. He also urged the court to compel the defendants to undertake not to take any action that could affect the subject matter of the suit pending its resolution.

Counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Oyinlade Koleoso, said the AGF’s office had filed a counter-affidavit and preliminary objection but was yet to serve the processes, adding that the AGF did not have the authority to allocate oil blocks.

However, counsel to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, J.A. Olugbade, opposed the application, while B.J. Tabaya, representing the petroleum minister, said he had no instruction to provide the undertaking sought by the plaintiffs.

Justice Nwite queried the position, asking what parties were expected to do when a matter was before the court. In response, Tabaya said parties would maintain the status quo. The judge then directed counsel to convey the court’s position to their clients.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite granted the application and ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the suit. The matter was adjourned to January 26 for hearing.