Court Adjourns Bayelsa King’s Suit Against Shell To March 18
The Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has adjourned to March 18 the suit filed by the King of Ekpetiama Kingdom, Bayelsa State, HRM Bubaraye Dakolo, Agada IV.
The suit challenges the divestment of onshore and shallow water assets by Shell UK PLC, previously operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
Justice Ayo Emmanuel, who presided over the case, stated that the adjournment was to hear a motion on a preliminary objection.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, counsel for the defendants, Mr. Michael Amadi, informed the court that the respondents had filed a notice of preliminary objection, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Chuks Uguru, also sought the court’s leave to amend earlier motions to correct typographical errors and serve the updated copies to all parties.
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The plaintiff alleged that Shell’s divestment did not comply with the guidelines stipulated under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
The suit also seeks redress and remediation for the cumulative pollution of Dakolo’s domain over the past 40 years.
The suit, filed on May 26, 2025, is marked FHC/YNG/CS/8/2025. The defendants are 1st Defendant Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC),2nd Defendant Shell Petroleum N.V., 3rd Defendant Shell PLC, 4th Defendant Attorney General of the Federation, 5th Defendants Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission(NUPRC), 6th Defendant Minister of Petroleum Resources, and Renaissance African Energy Limited as the 7th Defendant.
