Lekoil Nigeria Limited, the oil and gas exploration and production company with a focus on Nigeria and West Africa, revealed that it has been granted an injunction by a Federal High Court in Lagos against her partner in the Oil Prospecting Lease, OPL 310 asset, Optimum Petroleum Development Limited.
Optimum has 60 percent interest while Lekoil’s affiliates collectively own 40 percent participating interest in OPL 310 for which Lekoil has invested over US$250 million and has continued to invest in the block till date. Following its investments, the Company in 2013 announced the Ogo discovery in OPL 310 (offshore Lagos State) with significant resources – the third largest discovery in the world that year.
Lekoil prayed the court to grant an order of interim injunction restraining Optimum Petroleum from taking further steps to expropriate, appropriate, transfer or extinguish Lekoil’s rights and interests in the 40% participating interest in Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 310.
Lekoil resorted to litigation after numerous efforts at reaching a common ground with Optimum Petroleum with regard to securing Lekoil’s 40% participating interest in OPL 310
In 2013 Lekoil acquired a participating interest of 17.14% through its affiliate Mayfair Assets and Trust (Mayfair) with Ministerial consent granted in 2017. The Company acquired a further 22.86% in 2015 via its acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Afren Investment Oil and Gas Limited (AIOGL) from the court appointed Administrator of the insolvent parent Afren. Thereafter, the company sought Ministerial Consent through the then regulator and also the Operator – that application for consent remains pending.
The injunction granted by the Federal High Court in Lagos will prevent Optimum Petroleum from interfering with Lekoil’s rights and interests in the OPL 310 license area and will allow Lekoil look forward to the conclusion of the license conversion and retention and to proceed with joint plans for development.
Lekan Akinyanmi, CEO of Lekoil, said: “We are pleased with the decision of the Federal High Court in Lagos to grant the injunction in our favour. This is an important step in protecting our rights and interests in the OPL 310 license area, and will allow us to move forward with credible development plans that will benefit the nation.”
Lekoil is committed to working with all stakeholders to develop Nigeria’s oil and gas resources in a responsible and sustainable manner.