Pipeline demolitions in Bonny LGA of Rivers State has been halted. A date has been fixed by the high court to look into the merits of the case.
The Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt issued the order restraining the Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, NNPC Exploration and Production Company Limited (NEPL), WAGL Energy Limited, and Kristal Polis Limited, from continuing with the demolitions in the Ntamoku Ayambo Pipeline Estate in Bonny, Rivers State.
The presiding judge in Suit No.: BYHC/17/CS/2026, the Justice, Rita Oguguo, issued the exparte order after hearing the submission of the counsel to the claimants, Eugene Odey.
Claimants in the suit are 45 residents of Ntamoku Ayambo Pipeline Estate, who are suing on behalf of themselves, families and other residents of the area, while the four companies are respondents in the said suit.
The order ordered the defendants from taking further steps in the demolition of the Claimant’s landed property situate at the Shell pipeline Community in Bonny pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
Oguguo adjourned the case to Tuesday, February 24, 2026 for motion on Notice.
The presiding judge also granted the claimants leave to serve the writ of summons and accompanying processes on the defendants through substituted means.
“That leave be and is hereby granted the Claimants/Applicants to endorse the writ of summons and other accompanying processes in this suit for service outside the jurisdiction of this court.”
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“That leave be and is hereby granted the Claimants/Applicants to serve the writ of summons and other accompanying processes in this suit on the Defendants outside jurisdiction of this suit at NNPC E and P Limited, opposite Ogba 200, Airport Rood, Benin City, Edo State and WAGL Energy Limited, No. 45, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”
“It is further ordered that leave be and is hereby granted the Claimants/ Applicants to serve the 2nd and 4th Respondents the processes of this suit by delivering same to the Director or Secretary at their Headquarter via DHL or any other speed post.”
Residents of the area protested on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 when they woke to see heavy duty equipment demolishing structures and officials of Kristal Polis Limited ordering them to vacate their residences on or before Friday, February 13, 2026 as they were set to demolish their residences.
A survey plan sighted by Kristina Reports registered as Plan No. ESP/3585 with the then Bonny/Degema Province shows that the said pipeline under contention ingresses into Bonny from the rear of Orupiri Community and crosses the Admiralty Creek into Ogbokoro Ayambo to Ayambo Main Community and then to Ntamoku Ayambo where the demolitions are taking place.
The halted demolitions were said to have already affected and displaced thousands of vulnerable populations in the area including an estimated 5000 children, 3000 women, 1000 aged folks, as well as persons with disabilities, the unemployed, and several others
Tension thus builds in Bonny town as a result of the demolition exercise.
