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The Incorporated Trustees of HEDA Resource Centre has initiated legal action against the federal government, multinational oil corporations, and governmental bodies regarding the legality of the oil asset divestment agreement involving Eni Societa Per Azioni, Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited, and Oando PLC.
HEDA filed the lawsuit, numbered FHC/L/CS/850/25, through Kunle Adegoke (SAN) at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, seeking a judicial review to ascertain if the transaction adhered to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and other significant regulatory frameworks.
The defendants include the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
HEDA contended that the deal violated various statutory regulations, including the Guidelines for Obtaining Minister’s Consent to Assignment of Interest in Oil and Gas Assets (2021), the Upstream Petroleum Environmental Regulations (2022), the Gas Flaring, Venting and Methane Emissions Regulations (2023), and the Upstream Petroleum Environmental Remediation Regulations (2024).
The civil organization requested the court to rule the transaction as unlawful and invalid, claiming that necessary legal and environmental processes were overlooked during the transfer.
Additionally, it sought a permanent injunction preventing relevant governmental bodies from recognizing or approving the transaction and an order nullifying any ministerial consent already provided.
HEDA’s chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, emphasized in a recent statement that “this suit addresses more than a corporate transaction; it concerns the integrity of our regulatory systems and the future of environmental governance in Nigeria.”
He further remarked, “We cannot allow powerful groups to circumvent laws designed to protect citizens, the environment, the economy, and the country’s integrity.”
Suraju underscored that this case will test the Nigerian government's commitment to enforcing the PIA and maintaining accountability within the oil and gas sector, noting that the lawsuit is part of HEDA’s dedication to promoting transparency, environmental justice, and adherence to regulations in Nigeria’s extractive industry.
The organization stated that this legal action aims to establish a precedent that oil license transfers and divestments must be carried out in compliance with Nigerian laws, particularly considering the significance of environmental sustainability and responsible governance.
