A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has been asked to suspend the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, pending the hearing and determination of a substantive application challenging the company’s handling of the contract.
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The request forms part of the reliefs sought by the Registered Trustees of Empowerment and Welfare Development Initiative for Unemployed Youths in suit number FCT/HC/GWA/CV/299/2026.
The claimant alleged that Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, despite receiving substantial payments from the Federal Government for pipeline surveillance operations, had failed to meet expectations and was accused of providing cover for oil bunkerers operating in the Niger Delta.
The group is also asking the court to order an investigation into the company’s Managing Director, Osahon Okunbor, and to set aside a vote of confidence reportedly passed in favour of PINL and Okunbor by a committee of the House of Representatives.
The suit, dated October 15, 2026, was filed by the claimant’s lawyer, Samuel Yaro Momoh.
Named as defendants are Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited; its Managing Director, Osahon Okunbor; the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited; the Attorney-General of the Federation; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; and the House of Representatives.
In a motion ex parte brought pursuant to Order 42 of the High Court of the FCT (Civil Procedure) Rules 2025, section 6 of the 1999 Constitution and the inherent jurisdiction of the court, the claimant is seeking interim orders suspending the pipeline surveillance contract pending the hearing and determination of its motion on notice.
The application is supported by an 18-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Amarachi Orji, described as a Nigerian citizen and economist.
In the affidavit, Orji alleged that since PINL’s engagement by NNPCL, the company “has not lived up to expectations” and has been involved in what the claimant described as financial mismanagement, ineffectiveness, diversion and acts of economic sabotage.
The claimant further alleged that PINL lacked transparency and had been accused of providing cover for oil bunkerers in the Niger Delta despite the amounts paid to it by the Federal Government.
The court papers also contain allegations relating to the lifestyle and finances of Okunbor, including claims of personal aggrandisement, misappropriation of funds and living above legitimate means.
None of the allegations contained in the suit has, however, been established by any court, and the defendants remain entitled to respond to the claims in the course of the proceedings.
Beyond the request for an interim suspension of the surveillance contract, the claimant is asking the court to direct the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, the Police and other relevant agencies to investigate the operations, management, financial status and expenditure of PINL and its Managing Director in relation to the contract.
The group also wants the investigation to cover allegations of money laundering raised in its court processes.
It is further asking the court to order an investigation into the terms of all oil-related business arrangements between PINL and NNPCL.
The claimant is also seeking an order restraining the Presidency, NNPCL and other relevant authorities from renewing or re-awarding the surveillance contract to PINL or any company allegedly connected to it pending the determination of the substantive application.
Another major relief sought is an order setting aside the purported vote of confidence or resolution said to have been passed in favour of PINL and Okunbor by the House of Representatives’ HOSTCOM Committee.
The claimant argued that the resolution was unconstitutional, beyond the powers of the House and therefore of no legal effect.
It further contended that the hearing that produced the resolution was not conducted transparently.
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