The Human and Environmental Development Agenda Resource Centre (HEDA) has initiated legal action against the Federal Government of Nigeria and major multinational oil companies, contesting the legality of a recent oil asset divestment. The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos (case no. FHC/L/CS/850/25), is spearheaded by renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kunle Adegoke, on behalf of HEDA.
The suit questions whether the transfer of Oil Mining Lease interests by multinational firms — Eni Societa Per Azioni, Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited, and Oando PLC — complies with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and other relevant regulatory frameworks.
HEDA alleges that the divestment breaches multiple statutory instruments, 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), and the Upstream Petroleum Environmental Remediation Regulations (2024).
Defendants named in the case include the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
HEDA is seeking a court declaration that the transaction is unlawful and invalid, citing failures in legal and environmental due process. The group also requests a perpetual injunction to prevent recognition or approval of the deal and the nullification of any ministerial consents already granted.
In a statement, HEDA Chairman Olanrewaju Suraju emphasized the significance of the suit, describing it as a crucial effort to defend regulatory integrity and environmental justice within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. He stressed, “This is about more than a corporate transaction; it’s about upholding the rule of law and safeguarding our environment and economy from powerful interests bypassing established protections.”
Suraju further noted that the case will test the Federal Government’s commitment to enforcing the Petroleum Industry Act and ensuring accountability among influential players. HEDA hopes the lawsuit will establish a precedent, mandating strict adherence to Nigerian laws for all future oil license transfers and divestments, especially amid rising calls for sustainable environmental governance.
