A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has dismissed a suit seeking to stop the renewal and restructure of the nation’s pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd.
The decision followed an exparte motion, FCT/HC/M/4534/2026 filed and argued by the Registered Trustees of Peoples Wellbeing Association.
Ruling on the ex-parte motion, the trial judge, Justice Bello Kawu declined the request by the claimant/applicant and rather 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 processes and other processes in the suit on the 4th , 5th and 6th defendants, outside the jurisdiction of the court.
Listed as 1st to 6th defendants in the motion are, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd, 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 enroll order was dated April 2, 2026, it was cited by our reporter today.
In the motion exparte, the claimants had sought, among other reliefs, an order of interim injunction restraining the AGF (1st defendant) and NNPCL (2nd defendant) from further renewing the pipeline surveillance contract (worth billions of USA Dollars) awarded to Tantita Security Services Ltd, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited and Abokus Integrated Security Services Ltd (4th, 5th and 6th defendants) in the suit, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The claimant further sought for an interim order mandating and directing the Federal government,to forthwith restructure the entire oil pipeline surveillance contract and direct all relevant security agencies that are constitutionally vested with powers and duty to provide such security protection of oil pipeline in Nigeria, to immediately take over the coordination of security of all national oil pipelines in Niger-Delta, monitor and supervise the activities of all other private security establishments, such as the 4th, 5th and 6th defendants, pending the hearing and of the motion on notice.
However, the court declined the above reliefs and granted an accelerated hearing of the suit, while directing the claimant to serve all the processes on the defendants.
It held that granting such reliefs would be inimical to national economic stability, warning that it could create a vacuum that could trigger increased oil theft and significant revenue losses.
The judge emphasized that pipeline security remains central to Nigeria’s economic survival and is a matter of overriding public interest.
According to the Justice Kawu, “no court of law should grant an order capable of plunging the nation into economic crisis.”
The judge further held that the Federal Government and NNPCL are at liberty to proceed with the renewal of the pipeline surveillance contract and must ensure there is no operational vacuum pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The Court consequently ordered that all parties involved in the surveillance operations, including Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, should continue discharging their responsibilities in the national interest.
END
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