By Sampson Boroh
The Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa on Wednesday adjourned a suit challenging the divestment of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited from its onshore assets to May 6, following the absence of legal representatives from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The suit, which questions the legality of the divestment by Shell UK PLC, also seeks redress over alleged decades of environmental pollution in Ekpetiama Kingdom.
When the matter came up, counsel to Shell UK PLC, Mr J.P. Kudo, informed the court that the Attorney-General’s counsel had written to request an adjournment on the grounds of engagement at the Court of Appeal.
However, counsel to the plaintiff, Chuks Uguru, strongly opposed the request, urging the court to proceed with hearing the pending motion on preliminary objection filed by Shell.
Uguru argued that the era of frustrating indigent communities through delays and technicalities should be over.
“I urge my Lord not to touch this letter even with insulated fingers. The defendants have practically held us to ransom,” he said.
Presiding judge, Ayo Emmanuel, however, ruled in favour of the adjournment in the interest of justice and fixed May 6 to hear the motion.
The suit was instituted by Bubaraiye Dakolo, the traditional ruler of Ekpetiama in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, who is challenging the divestment on the grounds that it allegedly did not comply with provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.
Dakolo is also seeking remediation for what he described as over 40 years of cumulative environmental pollution in his domain.
Environmental rights groups, including Social Action and Health of Mother Earth Foundation, are supporting the Ekpetiama community in the legal action.
The Ekpetiama community is among host communities to the Gbarain-Ubie gas plant and Gbarain oilfields in Bayelsa State.
Listed as defendants in the suit marked FHC/YNG/CS/81/2025 are SPDC, Shell Petroleum N.V, Shell UK PLC, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, and Renaissance Energy Africa Ltd.
Renaissance Energy Africa, a consortium of indigenous oil firms, had in March 2025 acquired the onshore and shallow water oil and gas assets previously operated by SPDC following Shell’s divestment.
Speaking after the court session, Dakolo expressed disappointment over the adjournment but vowed to pursue the case to its logical conclusion.
“We are not deterred. This is a familiar tactic to wear communities out, but we will continue. We will be here on May 6, 2026. The way Shell exited our kingdom without proper engagement must be challenged,” he said.
Also reacting, Resource Justice Manager at Social Action, Prince Ekpere Edegbuo, criticised the frequent adjournments, describing them as deliberate delay tactics.
He urged the Attorney-General’s office to ensure proper representation at the next hearing, stressing that affected communities deserve timely access to justice.
