Power outage halts Shell divestment hearing
A power outage at the Yenagoa Division of the Federal High Court on Wednesday stalled proceedings in a suit challenging Shell’s divestment from its onshore assets and seeking redress over decades of environmental pollution in Bayelsa State.
When the matter came up for hearing, the presiding judge, Justice Ayo Emmanuel, informed parties present that proceedings could not continue because the courtroom was too hot.
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Nathan Tamarapreye
A power outage at the Yenagoa Division of the Federal High Court on Wednesday stalled proceedings in a suit challenging Shell’s divestment from its onshore assets and seeking redress over decades of environmental pollution in Bayelsa State.
When the matter came up for hearing, the presiding judge, Justice Ayo Emmanuel, informed parties present that proceedings could not continue because the courtroom was too hot.
An improvised standing fan was positioned beside the judge, as the alternative power source could not sustain the court’s air-conditioning system.
Justice Emmanuel declined appeals by counsel to the plaintiff, Chuks Uguru, to proceed with the hearing, despite arguments that the case had remained pending for a year without substantive commencement.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until 17 June for hearing.
At the previous adjourned date on 18 March, the case was stalled due to the absence of legal representatives from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) had challenged the jurisdiction of the court in the suit, which contests Shell UK PLC’s divestment from its onshore and shallow water assets previously operated by SPDC.
The plaintiffs argue that Shell’s divestment failed to comply with the provisions and regulatory guidelines outlined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
CitizenDiary learnt that the suit, filed by King Bubaraiye Dakolo, the traditional ruler of Ekpetiama in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, also seeks remediation for cumulative environmental pollution allegedly suffered in his kingdom over the past 40 years.
Environmental justice organisations, including Social Action and the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), are supporting the Ekpetiama community in its legal pursuit.
The Ekpetiama community is among the host communities to the Gbarain-Ubie gas plant and Gbarain oilfields.
Listed as defendants in suit No. FHC/YNG/CS/81/2025 are Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, 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, acquired the onshore and shallow water oil and gas assets previously operated by SPDC in March 2025 following Shell UK PLC’s divestment.
Reacting to the adjournment, Uguru expressed regret over what he described as repeated delays caused by the defendants, while insisting that the plaintiffs’ legal team remained determined.
Dr Prince Edegbuo, Resource Justice Manager at Social Action, also lamented the disruption, saying it reflected the collapse of critical social infrastructure and urged the government to address the persistent power challenges. Dakolo, on his part, maintained that his people remained steadfast in their pursuit of justice despite the prolonged delays.
