The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ordered the freezing of funds and assets linked to Fairmont Petroleum Limited over an alleged indebtedness of $274,620 and N256.98 million to PP Energy Suppliers Limited.
Justice Phoebe M. Ayua made the order in a Mareva injunction granted in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/157/2026, following an ex parte application filed by counsel to PP Energy Suppliers, ThankGod E. Nwugha.
The court restrained Fairmont Petroleum from withdrawing, transferring, tampering with or otherwise dissipating funds in its bank accounts in Nigeria up to the value of the alleged debt, pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiff’s Motion on Notice.
The order also restrains the company from dealing with, transferring, selling or dissipating its movable and immovable assets, shares or funds held in any financial institution.
The injunction followed claims by PP Energy Suppliers that the outstanding sums arose from hire charges allegedly incurred through the use of its vessel, MV Ocean Lady Tiana, for mooring, pushing and towing Fairmont Petroleum’s marine equipment, as well as other professional services.
According to the plaintiff, 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 and territorial waters of Nigeria.
Counsel to the applicant told the court that the application was brought pursuant to provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act, the Admiralty Jurisdiction Procedure Rules 2023 and the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, among other legal provisions.
After considering the affidavit of urgency, the affidavit in support of the application and submissions by Nwugha, who appeared with H. Aigbiremolen and N.C. Kanu, Justice Ayua granted the Mareva injunction.
The judge also directed the plaintiff to serve Fairmont Petroleum with the ex parte order, writ of summons, Motion on Notice and the Mareva injunction before the next adjourned date.
The court fixed September 30, 2026, for hearing of the Motion on Notice and ordered that hearing notice be issued and served on the defendant.
The injunction is an interim order pending the determination of the substantive application; the allegations of indebtedness remain to be determined by the court.
