Justice Ayo Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Wednesday adjourned a suit challenging the divestment of Shell from onshore assets until May 6 due to the absence of legal representatives from the office of the attorney-general of the federation.
It would be recalled that the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) had challenged the jurisdiction of the court in a suit challenging the divestment by Shell UK Plc of onshore and shallow water assets hitherto operated by the SPDC.
The plaintiffs in the suit alleged that the divestment by Shell did not follow the stipulated guidelines in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
The suit filed by Bubaraiye Dakolo, the traditional ruler of Ekpetiama in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, is also seeking redress and remediation of the cumulative pollution of Dakolo’s domain for 40 years.
It was learnt that environmental justice groups, Social Action, and Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) are collaborating in supporting the impacted Ekpetiama community to seek legal remedies.
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When the case came up for hearing, Mr. J.P. Kudo, counsel to Shell UK Plc, informed the court that counsel to the attorney-general of the federation had written a letter seeking an adjournment because he was engaged at the Court of Appeal.
However, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Chuks Uguru, who opposed the request, urged the court to go ahead and hear the pending motion for preliminary objection by Shell.
He argued that the country’s legal jurisprudence has gone beyond the use of delay tactics and technicalities to frustrate indigent communities from getting access to justice.
“I urge my lord not to touch this letter even with insulated fingers. The defendants have practically held us to ransom.
“The issue of adjournment is within the jurisdiction of the court. I urge the court to go on,” Uguru said.
Justice Emmanuel said that he was inclined to grant the adjournment in the interest of justice.
The judge adjourned the case until May 6 to hear the motion of preliminary objection.
Listed as defendants in the suit No. FHC/YNG/CS/81/2025 are Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, Shell Petroleum N.V, and Shell UK Plc.
Others are the attorney general of the federation, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the minister of petroleum resources, and Renaissance Energy Africa Limited.
It will be recalled that Renaissance Energy Africa, a consortium of indigenous oil firms, in March 2025, acquired the onshore and shallow waters oil and gas assets hitherto operated by SPDC, following the divestments by Shell UK Plc, the parent company of SPDC.
