Court declines request to restrain NNPCL, Tantita, others over oil pipeline protection contracts
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Apo declined a request for it to, among others, stop the renewal and restructure of the nation’s pipeline surveillance
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Apo declined a request for it to, among others, stop the renewal and restructure of the nation’s pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd, Pipeline Infrastructure Limited, and Abokus Integrated Security Services Ltd.
Justice Bello Kawu, in an ex parte ruling, said granting such a prayer would "be inimical to national interest and can throw the country into economic crisis."
The judge also declined to order the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd or the Federal Government to restructure the entire oil pipeline surveillance contract and direct all relevant national security agencies to take over the coordination of security for all national oil pipelines, and to monitor and supervise the activities of all other private security organisations involved.
He said his decision to refuse the prayer was "because pipeline security is the heart of our national economic survival, and it is in the public interest that the pipeline security providers continue to provide this essential national service."
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Justice Kawu also refused to grant the request for an interim order directing the AGF and the NNPCL or the Federal Government of Nigeria, to submit to the court a statement of oath "deposing to all amounts paid to the contracts and produce all the documents relating to the said contract within seven days of the order, pending the hearing and the determination pending the determination of a pending motion on notice.
The judge granted leave for the service of the originating summons on Tantita Security, Pipeline Infrastructure Limited, and Abokus Integrated outside Abuja and ordered an accelerated hearing of the substantive suit.
He adjourned further hearing in the case till April 21.
The ruling, delivered on March 21, but a certified true copy (CTC) of the enrolled order seen in Abuja on Monday, was on an ex parte motion filed in a suit marked: FCT/HC/M/4534/2026 by a group, the Registered Trustees of Peoples Wellbeing Association (PWA).
PWA is, in the substantive suit, querying, among others, the propriety of the pipelines protection contracts awarded to provide organisations, arguing that such should be the duty of the government's security agencies.
