Court adjourns Bayelsa traditional ruler’s suit against SPDC
The Federal High Court in Yenagoa on Wednesday, adjourned a suit filed by a traditional ruler, Bubaraiye Dakolo, traditional ruler of Ekpetiama in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa until May 6.
Dakolo is challenging the divestment of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) from onshore assets.
Justice Ayo Emmanuel adjourned the case due to absence of legal representatives from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The judge said that he was inclined to grant the adjournment in the interest of justice.
Earlier, Mr. J.P. Kudo , Counsel to Shell UK PLC informed the court that counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation had written a letter seeking an adjournment on the grounds that he was engaged at the Court of Appeal
However, counsel to the plaintiff, Dakolo, Mr Chuks Uguru who vehemently opposed the request urged the court to go ahead and hear the pending motion for preliminary objection by Shell.
He argued that the country’s legal jurisprudence has gone beyond the use of delay tactics and technicalities to frustrate indigent communities from getting access to justice.
“I urged my Lord not to touch this letter even with insulated fingers. The defendants have practically held us to ransom.
“The issue of adjournment is at the jurisdiction of the court, I urge the court to go on,” Uguru said.
NAN reports that had challenged the jurisdiction of the court in a suit challenging the divestment by Shell UK PLC from onshore and shallow water assets hitherto operated by SPDC.
The plaintiffs in the suit alleged that the divestment by Shell did not follow the stipulated guidelines in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
The Environmental justice groups, Social Action and Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and Social Action are joined in the suit.
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.
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 divestments by Shell UK PLC, the parent company to SPDC. (NAN)