Court adjourns suit by Bayelsa traditional ruler on Shell to July 22

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Yenagoa Division of the Federal High Court on Friday adjourned a suit. It challenges the divestment by Shell UK PLC. This divestment concerns onshore and shallow water assets. These assets were previously operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). The new date for the suit is July 22.

The plaintiffs claimed that Shell’s divestment did not adhere to the guidelines. These guidelines are stipulated in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

The suit was filed by King Bubaraiye Dakolo1, traditional ruler of Ekpetiama in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa. It is seeking redress for the cumulative pollution of Dakolo’s domain over 40 years. It also demands remediation.

The Ekpetiama community is in the neighbourhood. It is also part of the host communities to the Gbarain-Ubie gas plant and Gbarain oilfields.

When the case came up for mention, counsel to the plaintiff, Dakolo, Mr Chuks Uhuru, made an ex parte application. He requested to grant the plaintiff leave. This was to serve the court summons on Shell UK PLC, the parent company of SPDC, through substituted means.

The trial judge, Justice Ayo Emmanuel, granted the application. It allows for serving some of the defendants domiciled in the United Kingdom. Others are in the Netherlands.

Justice Emmanuel adjourned the case to July 22 for the commencement of the hearing.

Listed as defendants in the suit No. FHC/YNG/CS/81/2025 are Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, Shell Petroleum N.V., Shell UK PLC.

Others include the Attorney General of the Federation. They also involve The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, and Renaissance Energy Africa Ltd.

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 divestment by Shell UK PLC, the parent company of SPDC