Alleged breach of Court Order halting exploration by SEEPCO brews tension in Bayelsa community

There is rising tension in Onuebum community at Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa over the alleged violation of a court order issued by a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa.

The court order halted the Sterling Exploration and Energy Production Company Nigeria Limited,.(SEEPCO) from oil exploration activities from the Oil Prospecting Licence 2005 (OPL 2005) located at Owaliba land.

According to Elders and Youths of the Onuebum community, SEEPCO reportedly defied the court order and have resumed civil works, including extensive sand filling, at an oilfield site in Onuebum community.

This action, according to Onuebum indigenes, is a clear violation of the February 19, 2025, interlocutory injunction handed down by Justice Ayo Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, in a suit numbered FHC/YNG/CS/277/2024 filed by HRH Kine Kolobota Osain and Diomaziba Daniel Odumafor on behalf of the people of Onuebim community against the SEEPCO, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Bayelsa State Government and the Attorney-General of Bayelsa State.

The Court in its ruling gave an order of interlocutory injunction restraining SEEPCO from carrying out any oil exploration or any activity related to exploration or any activity of oil at OPL 2005 situated in Owaliba land in Onuebum community pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit.

The plaintiff in their prayers before the court had sought for six relief bothering on the alleged failure of SEEPCO to prepare needs assessment in consultation with the host community, which is the Onuebim community as recognised under the Petroleum Industry Act, before proceeding with its oil and gas exploration.

“And that the defendants by the Environmental Impact Assessment Act and the Petroleum Industry Act are obligated to carry out an environmental impact assessment with respect to the oil and gas exploration activities to be carried out on OPL 2005 and possible resultant effects on the inhabitants of Onuebum community”

“That the first defendant (SEEPCO) act of proceeding to embark on oil and gas exploration activities without first preparing its host communities needs assessment as well as environmental impact assessment is a flagrant breach of the relevant provisions of statute.

“That the 3rd and 4th defendants, Bayelsa Govt and Attorney-General respectively, have also given the 1st defendant (SEEPCO), conditions to access and carry out it’s oil and gas exploration activities on OPL 2005 in Owaliba land in Onuebum community but same conditional resumption of work has been disregarded.

“That the Court has a duty to put a stop to the 1st defendant’s brazen acts of flagrant disobedience to relevant provisions of statute despite the fact that it’s attention has been called to same.”

An Indigene of the Onuebum community, Comrade Azibola, who confirmed the development, said: “Despite this order, SEEPCO has resumed work at the Owaliba bush site. Community sources confirm ongoing civil works, specifically extensive sand filling, a precursor to potential oil extraction.

“This action, while not drilling, represents a potential contempt of court, as the injunction broadly prohibits any project-related activity, and it could trigger penalties for SEEPCO and its officials.

“This shows they don’t care about us, or the law,” said Azibaola, an Onuebum resident.

“The 2021 PIA aimed to reform Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, tackling long-standing issues of transparency, community disenfranchisement, and environmental damage in the Niger Delta.

“The law strives to ensure direct community benefits from oil extraction and minimize environmental harm. This case tests the PIA’s effectiveness, and SEEPCO’s actions question the enforceability of court orders in the region” he said.

It was gathered that SEEPCO, the NUPRC, and the Bayelsa State Government have not yet commented publicly on the court order or the resumed work.

Attempts to obtain reactions from SEEPCO and its workers on the site of the project proved abortive.

The Onuebum Communications Team, however said the outcome of the case could significantly impact Nigeria’s oil industry, setting a precedent for PIA enforcement and resolving disputes between oil companies and host communities.

“It highlights the persistent challenges of balancing economic development with environmental protection and community rights in the Niger Delta.”