CSO Drags Mobil, Seplat Energy, NUPRC to court over Controversial Divestment
By Ekemini Simon
A Civil Society Organisation, Network Advancement Program for Poverty and Disaster Risk Reduction (NAPPDRR) has sued Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Seplat Energy and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) over its role in divesting Mobil’s OML 67, 68, 70 and 104 shallow water assets in Akwa Ibom State.
In February 2022, ExxonMobil announced plans to sell its subsidiary’s (Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited) four assets in the shallow waters of Akwa Ibom State at the cost of $1.2 billion. In October 2024, the Federal Government also approved the sales.
In suit number FHC/UY/CS/47/2024 brought before the Federal High Court, Uyo, the plaintiffs; NAPPDRR, and some members of the host communities, Ettetim Etim, Queen Inyang and Peter Clement is asking the court for the review of the Mobil’s divestment process or adequate compensation made to the host communities for environmental damage caused by over five decades of Mobil’s oil exploration and production within the host communities.
They asked the court to declare that they are entitled to have their aquatic/marine environment operated by Mobil for over five years cleaned up and remediated to its pristine state before the sales of the assets to Seplat Energy Plc.
They prayed the court for an order of injunction restraining Mobil Producing from divesting its assets or interest from its area of operations to Seplat Energy.
The Plaintiffs prayed the court for a declaration that they are entitled to the protection of their environment, means of livelihoods from being destroyed, polluted, contaminated and infringed upon, deprived and/or taken away.
They asked for damages/compensation for the destruction, contamination, pollution of the Plaintiffs’ environment and deprivation of the Plaintiffs’ means of livelihoods arising from the defendants’ activities assessed at N500 billion.
They also asked for an order of injunction restraining NUPRC from authorizing and sanctioning Mobil Producing divestment arrangement with the Seplat Energy without compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.
In its ruling on November 29, 2024, the Judge, Justice M. A. Onyetenu granted leave of the court for the plaintiffs to serve the summons on the defendants; Seplat Energy, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
The case was adjourned to January 30, 2025 for mention.