Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) has challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa in a suit filed by the traditional ruler of Ekpetiama Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Bubaraiye Dakolo.
Dakolo is contesting the divestment of Shell UK PLC from its onshore and shallow-water assets previously operated by SPDC, alleging that the process violated provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
The monarch is also seeking remediation and redress for what he described as cumulative environmental pollution of his domain spanning over 40 years.
Ekpetiama community is a host community to the Gbarain-Ubie gas plant and Gbarain oilfields.
When the matter came up for hearing on Thursday, counsel to the defendants, Mr Michael Amadi, informed the court that the respondents had filed a notice of preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Chuks Uguru, also sought leave of court to amend earlier motions to correct typographical errors and to serve the amended copies on the parties.
Justice Ayo Emmanuel adjourned the matter until March 18 to hear the preliminary objection.
The defendants listed in Suit No. FHC/YNG/CS/81/2025 include 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, acquired the onshore and shallow-water assets formerly operated by SPDC in March 2025 following Shell UK PLC’s divestment.
