SC orders Chevron to maintain status quo with regard to disputed oil blocks

Britannia-U’s attempt to win the divested oil mining leases (OMLs) 52, 53, 55, received yet another boost after the Supreme Court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo with respect to the action.

Britannia-U was appealing against a Court of Appeal order dismissing the interlocutory injunction, which Britannia-U Nigeria had obtained against Chevron in a federal high court, ordering Chevron not to deal with the assets pending the determination of the substantive case. The injunction has now been reinstated.

Britannia-U recently won a disclosure order in the US court against Chevron under which Chevron has to disclose all documents and communications relating to the bid. Chevron has already signed SPAs with a Seplat consortium, consisting primarily of Seplat as the buyer of OML 53, Amni International of OML 52 and Belema Oil of OML 55.