There is growing outrage in Onuebum community, Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State, following claims that Sterling Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO) has violated a Federal High Court order.
The court, sitting in Yenagoa, had ruled against SEEPCO’s oil exploration activities in OPL 2005 located at Owaliba land, in a suit number FHC/YNG/CS/277/2024.
According to elders and youths of Onuebum community, SEEPCO reportedly defied the court order and have resumed civil works, including extensive sand filling, at an oilfield site, sparking outrage and concerns over legal and environmental implications.
This action, according to the indigenes of Onuebum, is a clear violation of the February 19, 2025, interlocutory injunction handed down by Justice N. Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, in a suit by HRH Kine Kolobota Osain and Diomaziba Daniel Odumafor (for themselves and on behalf of the people of Onuebum Community) against the Sterling Exploration and Energy Production Company Nigeria Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Bayelsa State Government and the Attorney-General of Bayelsa State.
The court, in its ruling, issued an order of interlocutory injunction restraining SEEPCO from carrying out any oil exploration or activity related to exploration or any activity of oil at OPL 2005 situated in Owaliba land in the Onuebum community pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit.
The plaintiff, in their prayers before the court, sought six reliefs concerning the alleged failure of SEEPCO to prepare a 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 community’s 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 its oil and gas exploration activities on OPL 2005 in Owaliba land in Onuebum community, but the same conditional resumption of work has been disregarded,” the relief reads in part.
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