Malabu oil& Gas Sues Nigerian Govt For Splitting OPL 245 Into Four Assets

• Seeks N1trn In Damages

The long-running controversy surrounding Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245 has resurfaced at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd has filed a fresh motion challenging the Federal Government’s decision to split the oil block into four separate assets.

In Suit No: FHC/ABJ/ CS/871/2026, Malabu is asking the court to declare the government’s actions illegal, nullify the disputed agreements, restrain further interference, and award damages of N1 trillion for what it describes as unlawful encroachment on its rights.

In the suit, Malabu Oil & Gas is directly challenging the actions of the Nigerian government, naming the President of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Minister of Petroleum Resources as the first to third defendants, respectively.

The suit was filed on Monday, May 25, 2026 by a team of lawyers led by R.O. Atabo (SAN).

Malabu’s prayers include: “A declaration that the executive actions of the 1st & 3rd Respondents, to wit: splitting OPL 245 into Four (4) separate Assets to be managed by Shell Nigeria Ultra-Deep Limited, Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Ltd, Nigerian Agip Exploration Company Ltd and Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited via the OPL 245 Resolution Agreement executed on or about the 5th day of March, 2026 whilst Applicant’s rights and interests in OPL 245 are still subsisting, amount to illegal and unlawful exercise of executive powers.”

It also seeks: “A declaration that the 1st & 3rd Respondents have no powers under the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 or any other Law to create concurrent exclusive possessory rights over OPL 245 in favour of any other entity or persons during the subsistence of Applicant’s exclusive possessory rights over OPL 245.

“A declaration that the Block 245 Resolution Agreement and the subsequent purported Letter of grant of OPL 245 issued by the 1st & 3rd Respondents are exercises outside the scope of their Statutory Powers under the Petroleum Industry Act.

“An order quashing, setting aside and/or nullifying the conversion of OPL 245 to OML 245 by the 1st & 3rd Respondents during the pendency of Suit Nos: FHC/ABJ/CS/201/2017 and FHC/ABJ/ CS/206/2017 before this Court, APPEAL NOS CA/A/393/2019, and CA/A/883/2020 before the Court of Appeal of Nigeria and APPEAL NOS: SC/CV /356/2025 and SC/ CV/959/2025 before the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

In addition, company seeks: “An order awarding damages against the Respondents jointly and severally in the sum of One Trillion Naira (N1,000,000,000,000.00) only, for unlawful and/or illegal interference with Applicant’s interests in OPL 245 and for actions that are ultra vires the provisions of the Petroleum Industry