A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has granted a Mareva injunction restraining Fairmont Petroleum Limited from withdrawing, transferring, dissipating or otherwise tampering with funds standing to its credit in Nigerian banks up to the sums of $274,620 and ₦256,976,600, pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice filed by PP Energy Suppliers Limited.
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Justice Phoebe M. Ayua made the preservatory orders in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/157/2026 following an ex parte application brought by PP Energy Suppliers Limited through its counsel, ThankGod E. Nwugha, Esq.
The applicant approached the court seeking interim protection over Fairmont Petroleum’s funds and assets on the basis of an alleged outstanding indebtedness arising from marine services said to have been rendered by PP Energy.
Specifically, PP Energy asked the court to restrain Fairmont Petroleum from withdrawing or dealing with money in its bank accounts up to the value of the alleged debt pending the hearing of the substantive interlocutory application.
It also sought an order restraining the defendant from dealing with, transferring, selling or otherwise dissipating its movable and immovable assets, shares and funds held in any financial institution.
The plaintiff further asked the court to direct banks in Nigeria to disclose on oath the sums standing to the credit of Fairmont Petroleum within seven days of service of the order.
According to PP Energy, the alleged outstanding sums arose from hire charges accruing from the use of its vessel, MV Ocean Lady Tiana, for mooring, pushing and towing Fairmont Petroleum’s marine equipment, together with other professional services.
The applicant told the court that the services were rendered from 777 Jetty, Port Harcourt, to Fairmont Petroleum’s operational base at Cawthorne Channel 1 and Bonny Anchorage within the Port Harcourt coastal waters and Nigeria’s territorial waters.
The ex parte application was brought pursuant to Section 251(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, provisions of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act, the Admiralty Jurisdiction Procedure Rules 2023, relevant provisions of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019, as well as the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
In considering the application, Justice Ayua examined the affidavit of urgency and affidavit in support of the motion ex parte deposed to by Patric Otuya, as well as the submissions of Nwugha, who appeared with H. Aigbiremolen and N.C. Kanu for the applicant.
The court consequently granted a Mareva injunction restraining Fairmont Petroleum from withdrawing, tampering with or otherwise dissipating funds in its accounts with banks or other financial institutions in Nigeria up to $274,620 and ₦256,976,600.
The court stated that the sums represented the outstanding hire allegedly accruing to PP Energy’s vessel, MV Ocean Lady Tiana, for the marine and professional services said to have been rendered to Fairmont Petroleum.
Justice Ayua also restrained Fairmont Petroleum from dealing with, dissipating, transferring, selling or otherwise tampering with its movable or immovable assets, shares and funds in financial institutions pending the determination of the motion on notice.
The court further directed PP Energy to serve Fairmont Petroleum with the originating summons, the ex parte order, the writ of summons, the motion on notice and the Mareva injunction before the next adjourned date.
The matter was adjourned to September 30, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice, with the court also directing that a hearing notice be issued and served on the defendant.
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