A Federal High Court, sitting in Yenagoa Judicial Division, Yenagoa, yesterday, granted an application brought by HRH Bubaye Dakolo, Agada 1V, Ibenanowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, Bayelsa in a three billion dollars suit against international oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), seeking leave to serve the defendants by substituted means.
Justice Ayo Emmanuel adjourned the matter for hearing to 22nd July.
Joined in the suit marked FHC/ YEN/ CS/81/2025 are seven defendants, including 1st defendant Shell Petroleum Development Company, 2nd Shell NV, 3rd Shell Plc, 4th Attorney General of the Federation,5th Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Agency, 6th Minister of Petroleum Resources and 7th Renaissance African Energy Ltd.
Among the plaintiff’s claims in a writ of summons: a declaration that the sale of onshore and shallow waters oil and gas assets to the 7th defendant (Renaissance African Energy Ltd) was executed without strict compliance with the mandatory provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
Other claims includes a declaration that the exclusion of Ekpetiama Kingdom and its leadership from the divestment process amounts to a denial of their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) under international law and renders the divestment process procedurally and legally defective.
The Royal Father, who spoke with reporters in Yenagoa, said he approached the court to exercise his fundamental human rights to exist, given the devastating effects of oil exploration in his kingdom and SPDC’s divestment plans which violates the Petroleum Industry Act.
He said life expectancy in his kingdom is 40 years which he said was below the national average, adding that medical records show a spike in cases of cancer disease in his kingdom.