HEDA Sues FG, Oil Majors Over Alleged Illegal Oil License Transfer
Lagos, Nigeria – In a landmark move to enforce transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, the Incorporated Trustees of HEDA Resource Centre has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government, several multinational oil corporations, and key regulatory bodies over what it describes as the unlawful divestment of major oil assets.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos and numbered FHC/L/CS/850/25, challenges the transfer of interests in Oil Mining Lease assets by Eni Societa Per Azioni, Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited, and Oando PLC.
Represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kunle Adegoke, HEDA is asking the court to determine whether the transaction complied with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and other key regulatory frameworks.
According to HEDA, the divestment violates several statutory guidelines and environmental regulations, including:
The Guidelines for Obtaining Minister’s Consent to Assignment of Interest in Oil and Gas Assets (2021)
The Upstream Petroleum Environmental Regulations (2022)
The Gas Flaring, Venting and Methane Emissions Regulations (2023)
The Upstream Petroleum Environmental Remediation Regulations (2024)
Named as defendants in the suit are:
The Federal Republic of Nigeria
The Attorney General of the Federation
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC)
The Ministry of Petroleum Resources
HEDA is seeking a court declaration that the transaction is unlawful, invalid, and of no legal effect.
It is also requesting a perpetual injunction restraining the relevant authorities from recognising or furthering the divestment, and an order nullifying any ministerial consent that may have already been granted.
“This suit is about more than just a corporate deal. It’s about the integrity of our regulatory systems and the future of environmental governance in Nigeria,”
“We cannot continue to allow powerful interests to bypass laws meant to protect citizens, the environment, and the economy,” said Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, Chairman of HEDA.
The organisation emphasized that this case could serve as a critical test of Nigeria’s commitment to the Petroleum Industry Act and the broader fight for responsible resource governance in the face of environmental and economic challenges.
