A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has dismissed a suit seeking to halt the renewal and restructuring of the nation’s pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd.
The decision followed an ex parte motion (No. FCT/HC/M/4534/2026) filed and argued by the Registered Trustees of the Peoples Wellbeing Association.
Ruling on the motion, the trial judge, Justice Bello Kawu, declined the claimant’s request and instead granted an accelerated hearing of the motion on notice, fixed for April 21, 2026.
Consequently, Justice Kawu ordered the applicants to issue and serve the originating and other court processes on the 4th, 5th, and 6th defendants outside the jurisdiction of the court.
Listed as 1st to 6th defendants in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd, Pipeline Infrastructure Limited, and Abokus Integrated Security Services Ltd.
Although a certified copy of the enrolled order was dated April 2, 2026, it was obtained by our reporter on Tuesday.
In the ex parte motion, the claimants sought, among other reliefs, an interim injunction restraining the AGF (1st defendant) and NNPCL (2nd defendant) from further renewing the pipeline surveillance contract—reportedly worth billions of US dollars—awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, and Abokus Integrated Security Services Ltd (4th, 5th, and 6th defendants), pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The claimant also sought an interim order directing the Federal Government to immediately restructure the entire oil pipeline surveillance arrangement and mandate relevant security agencies, constitutionally empowered to provide such protection, to take over the coordination of pipeline security in the Niger Delta. This would include monitoring and supervising the activities of private security firms such as the 4th, 5th, and 6th defendants, pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
However, the court declined the requests and instead ordered an accelerated hearing of the suit, while directing the claimant to serve all processes on the defendants.
The court held that granting the reliefs sought would be inimical to national economic stability, warning that it could create a vacuum capable of triggering increased oil theft and significant revenue losses.
Justice Kawu emphasized that pipeline security is central to Nigeria’s economic survival and constitutes a matter of overriding public interest.
According to the judge, “no court of law should grant an order capable of plunging the nation into economic crisis.”
The court further held that the Federal Government and NNPCL are at liberty to proceed with the renewal of the pipeline surveillance contract and must ensure that no operational vacuum exists pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Accordingly, the court ordered that all parties involved in the surveillance operations, including Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, should continue discharging their responsibilities in the national interest.
