The war against oil bunkering seems to go sour following accusations that the Nigerian Army has not paid for numerous houseboats hired to patrol the waterways.
Now, three Port Harcourt based firms that specialize in renting out houseboats for operations in the country’s waterways have dragged the Nigerian Army to a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt over alleged 26 months of unpaid rents, and the seizure of their boats.
Protests have also erupted in the region even as the court has adjourned to April 15, 2026 as boat owners and workers have taken to the streets over unpaid rentals.
The case was called at the court, presided over by the Justice, D.S. Pam, in suit No: FHC/PH/CS/115/2025 instituted by the plaintiffs: Peaches Integrated Services Limited; Godsam Industrial Services Limited; and Etucom Integrated Services Limited.
The plaintiffs are in court against the Attorney General of the Federation; the Chief of Defence Staff; and the Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe, over unpaid rents accruing from the rented House Boats by the Nigerian Army.
Read also:Â Army dismantle 56 oil bunkering sites, arrest 17 suspects
They claimed that the boats were rented by the Nigerian Army to use in the Niger Delta waterways in the fight against oil bunkering and other activities, but have been seized and used without their rent paid for.
The plaintiffs, in their application through their counsel, Mbata Chiburoma (Esq ), are demanding the full payments accruing from the House Boats and their release for maintenance.
The respondents, through U. J. Chiedozie, the counsel to the second and third respondents (the Chief of Defence Staff and the Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe), countered the plaintiffs’ application with a preliminary objection.
The plaintiffs’ counsel, Chiburoma, responded with a counter affidavit over the preliminary objection.
After the arguments by both parties, the judge, Pam adjourned the matter to April 15, 2025 to hear all the applications. “This matter is hereby adjourned to April for the hearing of the applications,†Pam said.
Chiburoma, who spoke to journalists outside the court room, said that the boats were rotting away while the payments for their rents remain out of reach to the owners, noting however, that she is optimistic that justice will be served.
The counsel said: “What the defendants have to do they have not done. They have not released the boats and they have not released the money for their use. And the boats are getting useless by the day and the owners have lost some for lack of maintenance. But I am optimistic that we will get justice.â€
Meanwhile, there was a peaceful protest in front of the court premises, as workers of the affected firms carried placard, decrying the seizure of the boats and the owed rents.
They lamented that they were being owed salary arrears as their employers have been unable to pay them, appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the matter.
Some of the placards read:â€Mr President rescue us,†“Our Boats are dilapidated due to lack of maintenanceâ€, “We believe in the renewed hope of Mr President, save our soul,†National Assembly intervene now, House Boat contractors are not slaves.â€
Dennis Linus Ayaraekpe, one of the protesters, who spoke on behalf of the workers, said: “We are law-abiding citizens doing honest work in order to earn a living. These are our workers that we have not been able to pay. The boats are in a terrible state. Our families are hungry and everybody right now is not happy.
“So, we are pleading with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in this matter. We are also calling on the Attorney General and the Chief of Defence Staff. We just want our sufferings to end.
“We actually made series of efforts to get our money and the Boats released. We even sat with the former Chief of Defence Staff in order to resolve this matter. But up till now, we are still owed.â€
The Navy has recorded huge successes in the war against oil theft to the point of helping Nigeria to get to almost 1.8mbd. Observers however say it will be awful if business people who helped the Navy to succeed would now be put to pains for helping Nigeria.
