News
Court Backs PIA, Dismisses Suit Challenging Host Community Liability Provisions
A Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has dismissed a suit challenging key provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) relating to host community liability, affirming the validity of the statutory framework governing Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Daily voice reports that that the court threw out all the claims filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the Centre for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (CHURAC),
CHURAC sought to invalidate aspects of the PIA on constitutional and human rights grounds.
The organisation had approached the court to contest provisions of the PIA that impose liability on host communities for acts of vandalism and sabotage affecting petroleum infrastructure, arguing that such provisions were unconstitutional, discriminatory, and amounted to a denial of fair hearing.
At the hearing of the suit,B. E. Oghenekaro appeared as counsel to the plaintiff
The Attorney-General of the Federation, listed as the 1st defendant, was represented by K. K. Akpule. Dr. Abiodun Adesanya, alongside A. A. Affe, represented the President of the Nigerian Senate, the 2nd defendant. There was no appearance for the 3rd defendant.
The defendants had earlier raised a preliminary objection, contending that CHURAC lacked the requisite locus standi to institute the action in a representative capacity on behalf of host communities.
However, in its ruling, the court declined to uphold the objection, holding that the issue of locus standi did not bar it from considering the substantive issues raised in the suit.
Despite overruling the preliminary objection, the court proceeded to examine the plaintiff’s claims on their merits and ultimately found them lacking in substance.
In its judgment, the court held that the challenge to the host community liability provisions of the PIA was unfounded.
It ruled that the plaintiff failed to establish that the impugned sections of the Act were unconstitutional or discriminatory, or that they violated the right to fair hearing as alleged.
The court further held that the National Assembly acted within its legislative competence in enacting the Petroleum Industry Act and that the provisions complained of were part of a broader statutory framework aimed at balancing the interests of host communities, operators, and the Nigerian state.
Accordingly, the court dismissed all the reliefs sought by CHURAC in their entirety and affirmed the validity and enforceability of the relevant provisions of the PIA.
Results from the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election are beginning to trickle in from polling units and local government areas across the state, with electoral officials collating votes amid keen interest from political parties and supporters.
While the outcome remains uncertain, early figures are expected to provide an indication of the direction of the closely watched contest.
PU08, ward 10, Ekiti-east LGA, Ekiti state
ADC – 17
APC – 151
PDP – 28
PU016, ward 09, Idi Igi Ose, Ijero LGA
APC: 93
ADC: 22
PU002, ward 10, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state.
ADC: 3
APC: 163
PDP: 32
PU008, ward 09, Best way, Ijero LGA
APC: 160
PDP: 35
ADC: 25
PU004, ward 11, Oke Ode, Ijero LGA
APC: 229
PDP: 35
ADC: 34
PU005, ward 11, Oke Ode, Ijero LGA
APC: 253
PDP: 30
ADC: 21
PU016, ward 11, Emmanuel Anglican Nur/Pry School, Ijero LGA
APC: 36
PDP: 4
PU009, ward 08, Oko Ejemu, Ijero LGA
APC: 121
ADC: 17
PDP: 7
PU005, ward 08, Fajuyigbe, Ijero LGA
APC: 146
PDP: 14
ADC: 10
The Ekiti State Government has declared Friday, June 19, 2026, a work-free day for public servants in the state.
Naija News reports that the government said the holiday was to enable workers to travel to their respective voting centres ahead of the governorship election scheduled for Saturday, June 20.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Permanent Secretary to the Head of Service, Janet Ajibola.
“His Excellency, the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has graciously declared Friday, 19th June, 2026, as a work-free day for all public servants across the state,” the statement read.
Ajibola said the directive was addressed to commissioners, special advisers, the Secretary to the State Government, permanent secretaries, the Clerk of the House, heads of tertiary institutions, the Registrar of the High Court of Justice, general managers, executive secretaries and heads of departments.
“For the purpose of public safety and continuity of essential services, hospitals and health centres, fire service departments and other essential service providers are exempted and shall continue to provide appropriate services,” the statement added.
The Permanent Secretary urged heads of exempted essential institutions to ensure uninterrupted service delivery during the election period.
She also directed chief executive officers and accounting officers across state parastatals to ensure compliance and wide circulation of the directive.
The news of Kunle Elebute by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the chair of the Governing Board of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN). has started generating reactions from Nigerians.
Kunle Elebute, a renowned chartered accountant and financial management consultant, as the chair of the Governing Board of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN).
This was disclosed in a statement by the presidency on Thursday, June 18, adding that his appointment, adding that his appointment was meant to strengthen corporate governance, deepen accountability and transparency, as well as enhance the confidence of investors within the financial reporting ecosystem of Nigeria.
According to The Punch, Elebute is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) with over 40 years of professional experience in Nigeria, West Africa and the world at large. Elebute had earlier served as the senior partner and chief executive officer of KPMG Nigeria, the KPMG West Africa chairman and the chairman of KPMG Africa.
Also, he had served on the regional and global boards of KPMG, such as its Global Board Audit Committee.
In the statement, he was described as a highly respected professional with wide experience in financial advisory services, auditing, strategic transformation, risk consulting and corporate governance.
Below are some of their comments:
Segun Benson said the appointment should have gone to another qualified person in another region of the country: “I would have expected Mr President to appoint a qualified person from another region.. no shades.”
Dimeji Lawal said that Nigerians are on the lookout for the effect of the appointment: “The appointment is one thing. The impact of the appointment is what Nigerians will be watching.”
Danjuma claimed that Tinubu’s appointments are following a particular pattern of the late former president Muhammadu Buhari: “I like Tinubu for this, he is following the footsteps of Buhari, who fulanised Nigeria with his appointments.”
Shamsuddeen commended the appointment of Elebute by President Tinubu, describing it as wonderful: “That’s another wonderful selection by President Tinubu GCFR by appointing Mr Elebute. Congratulations sir.”
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