Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Ijaw leaders have sought a court order to restrain the Federal Government from advertising or receiving bids for marginal oilfields, pending the hearing and determination of a suit filed before the Federal High Court in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State.
Recall that DPR in April 2020, announced the revocation of 11 out of the 13 marginal fields licenses issued to indigenous oil firms, of which OML 46 license held by Bayelsa State Government, was among the licences revoked for being dormant.
Marginal oilfields are non-commercial fields with the capacity to produce not more than 10,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
The suit with the number, PHC/YEN/CS/81/2020, was billed to be heard today, December 8, 2020, but the absence of the presiding judge, Justice Abimbola Awogboro, stalled the hearing.
The case will now be heard on the February 19, 2021.
The plaintiffs, Chief Brown Agu, Mrs Rosemary John-Oduone (President, Ijaw Women Connect) and Mr Femowei Friend, had approached the Court to stall the process leading to the bid for marginal oilfields located in their domain, pending the determination of the suit.
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The defendants in the case are the Attorney General of the Federation/Minister of Justice, the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the Department of Petroleum Resources.
In the motion on notice, the plaintiffs are seeking an order restraining the defendants from further advertising or receiving bids in respect of the marginal fields pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
They also want the court to restrain the defendants from giving out or approving licence in respect of marginal fields, pending the hearing and determination of the case.
