The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order directing the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, along with other defendants, to maintain the status quo pending the outcome of a case concerning four oil fields. This ruling was made on January 4, 2026, following an application by Hi-Rev Oil Limited and Hi-Rev Exploration and Production Ltd. in a lawsuit filed against the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

The Case and Application

The plaintiffs have sought an injunction to prevent the sale, assignment, or allocation of several oil fields, including:

• Yorla South (PPL 2A32 – OML 11) located in Rivers State
• Akiapiri (PPL 2A48 – OML 25) in Bayelsa
• Diebu Creek East (OML 32) in Bayelsa
• Idiok (PPL 2A41 – OML 67) in Akwa Ibom

These fields are said to be replacements for the Utapate Oil Field (formerly part of OML 13) and OPL 2002, which were previously allocated to the plaintiffs but were later withdrawn by the government. The plaintiffs argue that a consent judgment had been reached for the replacement of Utapate, which is still pending full implementation.

Plaintiffs’ Legal Argument

The plaintiffs’ counsel, Ambrose Unaeze, told the court that the companies’ rights were under threat due to the defendants’ plans to offer the oil fields in question for bid to third parties. According to Unaeze, the companies had taken substantial steps towards securing licenses to operate these fields and even made financial offers for the license to establish a petroleum refinery.

Court’s Interim Ruling

Despite the urgency of the matter, Justice Emeka Nwite did not grant the injunction as requested by the plaintiffs but instead ordered all parties involved to maintain the status quo. This means that the defendants are prohibited from taking any actions that might affect the subject matter of the case, such as selling, assigning, or allocating the disputed oil fields, until further hearings.

Justice Nwite emphasized the importance of preserving the integrity of the case pending its full determination, noting the risks to the plaintiffs’ legal interests if the matter were not resolved promptly.

Legal Representatives’ Positions

During the hearing, counsel for the AGF, Oyinlade Koleoso, argued that the AGF was not in a position to allocate oil blocks. J. A. Olugbade, representing the NUPRC, opposed the plaintiffs’ request, stating that a counter affidavit and preliminary objection had already been filed in the case. However, counsel for Lokpobiri (the Minister) B. J. Tabaya was unable to give an undertaking to the court, stating that his client had not authorized him to do so.

When the judge inquired about the appropriate course of action, Tabaya affirmed that the parties should maintain the status quo. Justice Nwite formally directed all parties to refrain from any actions that could alter the situation, pending the resolution of the case.

Next Steps

The case will be heard again on January 26, 2026 for further proceedings. In the meantime, the status quo order will remain in effect, ensuring that no decisions or actions are taken that could potentially alter the ownership or allocation of the contested oil fields.