The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, and other defendants in a suit concerning four oil fields to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the case.
The order was given on Monday by Justice Emeka Nwite following an application by the plaintiffs seeking to prevent any action that could affect the subject matter of the suit while the case is ongoing. The dispute centres on the proposed allocation, sale or assignment of four oil fields located across Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states.
The plaintiffs in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2678/2025, are Hi-Rev Oil Limited and Hi-Rev Exploration and Production Ltd. The defendants are the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
Justice Nwite had earlier, on December 22, 2025, directed the defendants to show cause why the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs in their motion ex-parte should not be granted. The plaintiffs are seeking an interim injunction restraining the defendants from taking further steps on the disputed oil fields until the court determines the substantive issues in the suit.
The oil fields involved include 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 plaintiffs argue that any action affecting these assets would prejudice their rights and undermine the authority of the court.
According to counsel to the plaintiffs, Ambrose Unaeze, the four oil fields were meant to replace the Utapate Oil Field, formerly part of OML 13, and OPL 2002, which were initially allocated to the companies but later withdrawn by the Federal Government. He told the court that the plaintiffs had entered into a settlement agreement with the government for the replacement of the Utapate Oil Field.
Unaeze said the settlement agreement was accepted by the parties and adopted as a consent judgment, making it binding. He added that the companies had taken substantial steps and offered consideration in respect of the grant of the relevant oil prospecting licences and their plans to establish a petroleum refinery.
When the matter was called on Monday, Unaeze informed the court that the 1st and 3rd defendants had just served him with their memorandum of conditional appearance, counter-affidavit and preliminary objection. He said he would need time to study and respond to the processes.
Despite this, he urged the court to compel the defendants to give an undertaking not to take any steps that could affect the oil fields pending the determination of the case. He argued that the nature of the dispute and the value of the assets involved posed a risk that the subject matter could be altered or disposed of before the next adjourned date.
Counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Oyinlade Koleoso, told the court that the office had filed a counter-affidavit and preliminary objection but had not yet served the processes. He also argued that the Attorney-General was not in a position to allocate oil blocks.
Counsel to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, J.A. Olugbade, opposed the application for an undertaking. Meanwhile, B.J. Tabaya, who appeared for the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, told the court that he had no instruction from his client to give the undertaking sought by the plaintiffs.
In response, Justice Nwite questioned the position of the defence, asking what parties were expected to do once a matter was before the court. Tabaya replied that parties would maintain the status quo.
Justice Nwite then directed counsel to inform his client that, as long as the matter remained before the court, all parties were expected to maintain the status quo. In his ruling, the judge granted the application and formally ordered all parties to refrain from taking any action that could affect the disputed oil fields pending the hearing and final determination of the suit.
