Court halts oil field allocations as Abuja court orders parties to maintain status quo in case involving Lokpobiri and four oil fields

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission to maintain the status quo in a dispute over four oil fields pending the hearing and determination of the case.

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Justice Emeka Nwite made the order on Monday after counsel to the plaintiffs, Ambrose Unaeze, moved an application seeking interim protection of the disputed oil assets.

The plaintiffs, Hi-Rev Oil Limited and Hi-Rev Exploration and Production Ltd, are challenging the proposed sale or allocation of the oil fields, which they say were meant to replace assets earlier withdrawn from them by the Federal Government.

The defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2678/2025 are the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

Justice Nwite had earlier, on December 22, 2025, ordered the defendants to show cause why the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs should not be granted.

At Monday’s sitting, Unaeze told the court that the defendants had just served their counter affidavits, conditional appearances and preliminary objections, and asked for time to respond.

He also urged the court to direct the parties to refrain from taking any steps that could affect the subject matter of the suit, warning that the oil fields could be allocated to third parties before the next hearing.

The four oil fields in dispute are Yorla South in Rivers State, Akiapiri and Diebu Creek East in Bayelsa State, and Idiok in Akwa Ibom State.

Unaeze argued that the fields were designated as replacements for the Utapate Oil Field and OPL 2002, which he said were earlier allocated to the plaintiffs but later withdrawn.

He said the companies had entered into a settlement agreement with the Federal Government for the replacement of the withdrawn assets, which he said became a consent judgment of the court.

He added that the firms had taken substantial steps and made financial commitments in reliance on the replacement arrangement, including steps towards operating licences and a refinery licence.

Counsel to the Attorney-General, Oyinlade Koleoso, told the court that the AGF was not responsible for allocating oil blocks and had filed processes in response to the suit.

Counsel to the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, J. A. Olugbade, opposed the application, saying a counter affidavit and a preliminary objection had already been filed.

Counsel to the minister, B. J. Tabaya, said he did not have instructions to give an undertaking but acknowledged that parties are expected to maintain the status quo once a matter is before the court.

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In a brief ruling, Justice Nwite ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the suit and adjourned the matter to January 26 for hearing.