The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday directed the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, along with other defendants in a dispute over four oil fields, to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the case.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order after the plaintiffs’ counsel, Ambrose Unaeze, moved an application requesting that the defendants be compelled to give an undertaking not to take any steps that could affect the subject matter of the suit.
The plaintiffs in the matter, suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2678/2025, are Hi-Rev Oil Limited and Hi-Rev Exploration and Production Ltd. The defendants include the petroleum minister, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
Earlier, on December 22, 2025, the court had ordered the defendants to show cause why the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs in their ex-parte motion should not be granted.
The oil firms 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.
They argued that the four oil fields were designated as replacements for the Utapate Oil Field, formerly under OML 13, and OPL 2002, which were initially allocated to them but later withdrawn by the Federal Government.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 added that the companies had taken significant steps and provided consideration toward securing licences to operate the oil prospecting blocks and to establish a petroleum refinery.
When the matter came up on Monday, 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 file a response.
Nevertheless, he urged the court to compel the defendants to undertake not to interfere with the subject matter of the case pending its resolution.
“This is because of the nature of the case and the risk the res may face before the next adjourned date,” he said.
Counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Oyinlade Koleoso, stated that his office had filed a counter-affidavit and preliminary objection but had not yet served them, noting that the AGF does 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 minister, said he had no instruction to give the undertaking requested by the plaintiffs.
“But when a case is in court, what are you supposed to do?” the judge asked.
“Party will maintain status quo,” Tabaya replied.
“So go and tell your client that as far as this matter is before the court, parties should maintain status quo,” Justice Nwite said.
In his ruling, the judge granted the application and ordered all parties to preserve the status quo until the suit is heard and determined.
The case was adjourned to January 26 for hearing.
