A fresh legal battle over four oil fields in the Niger Delta has escalated at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, with Hi-Rev Oil Limited and Hi-Rev Exploration & Production Limited asking the appellate court to halt and reverse allocations allegedly carried out by the Federal Government while their appeal over the fields remains pending.

The companies are specifically challenging the bidding and allocation of Yorla South (PPL 2A32/OML 11) in Rivers State, Akiapiri (PPL 2A48/OML 25) and Diebu Creek East (OML 32) in Bayelsa State, and Idiok (PPL 2A41/OML 67) in Akwa Ibom State.

In a motion filed at the Court of Appeal, the applicants alleged that the bidding and allocations conducted on or about July 21, 2026, by the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) were undertaken despite the pendency of their appeal and an application seeking to restrain further dealings with the assets.

The applicants want the appellate court to set aside the disputed bidding and allocations and restore the four oil fields to the status quo that existed when the appeal and their application for a stay were filed.

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They are also seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining the respondents, their agents, partners, staff and other persons acting on their behalf from dealing with, transferring or otherwise interfering with the fields pending the determination of the appeal.

The legal challenge dates back to December 22, 2025, when the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2678/2025, directed the respondents to show cause why an interim injunction sought by the companies should not be granted.

The applicants said the order was still on the court’s file when the substantive suit was struck out on April 20, 2026, following preliminary objections filed by the respondents.

They subsequently appealed the ruling of the Federal High Court, which had declined jurisdiction over the matter on the ground of an allegedly incompetent pre-action notice issued to NUPRC.

According to the applicants, they filed and served a further application on May 21, seeking a stay of execution and orders preventing the respondents from allocating, transferring or selling the four oil fields pending the determination of the appeal.

They alleged, however, that NUPRC proceeded with the disputed process despite being aware of the pending proceedings.

The applicants cited a sequence of actions allegedly undertaken by NUPRC, including a pre-bid conference on January 14, 2026, a bid submission deadline of June 12, and commercial bid proceedings in July.

They argued that allowing the allocations to stand could create a fait accompli and potentially undermine the appellate court’s eventual decision.

The companies maintained that the pending appeal remains a constitutional right and urged the Court of Appeal to protect not only their right but also the authority of the court by preventing actions that could render its eventual judgment ineffective.

The motion, dated August 13, 2026, was filed by Chief Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, SAN, and Chike Chukwu Okafor, counsel to the applicants. The Minister of Petroleum Resources, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and NUPRC are listed as respondents.