The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has granted a Mareva injunction against Kofa Energy Limited, Redstar Oil & Gas Limited, and Halkoff Logistics International Limited. The order, delivered on September 23, 2026, by Justice Stephen Dalyop Pam, restrains the companies from withdrawing, transferring, or dissipating funds and assets. This action follows an ex-parte application by Gimbrowns Marine Security Oil and Gas Limited in a suit filed on September 2026.
According to court documents, the dispute arose from unpaid charges related to the charter, professional services, and storage of 150,000 metric tonnes of crude oil aboard the plaintiff's vessel, Barge MICLYN 301. The operations were conducted at Cawthorne Channel 2 within Oil Mining Lease 18 (OML 18) in the Port Harcourt coastal waters. The plaintiff alleges that the defendants defaulted on payment obligations for maritime, storage, and security logistics services provided in the Niger Delta offshore sector.
The plaintiff, Gimbrowns Marine Security Oil and Gas Limited, through its counsel, Joseph Thangod Olulu, sought to preserve the subject matter of the substantive suit pending the determination of its motion on notice. In an affidavit sworn to by Patrick Otuya of Port Harcourt, the plaintiff provided evidence of the defendants' alleged default. The court granted the application, restraining the three companies from withdrawing or tampering with funds in any bank or financial institution in Nigeria, up to the value of the claims.
The restrained amounts are $1,602,000 and N1,314,470,000. The order also extends to the defendants' other assets, whether movable or immovable, including company shares held in any financial institution. The defendants are consequently restrained from dealing with, selling, transferring, or otherwise disposing of the assets pending further orders of the court. This move aims to prevent the dissipation of assets that could be used to settle the alleged debt.
Justice Pam also directed all commercial banks within the court's jurisdiction to disclose, on oath, the exact balances standing to the credit of the three defendants within seven days of being served with the order. This directive ensures that the court has accurate information on the defendants' financial standing and can effectively enforce the injunction.
The case has been adjourned until October 9, 2026, for mention, when the court is expected to hear arguments on the plaintiff's motion on notice. This hearing will provide an opportunity for the defendants to present their case and for the court to consider the merits of the plaintiff's claims. The outcome will determine the next steps in the dispute between Gimbrowns Marine Security Oil and Gas Limited and the three energy firms.
The court's decision to grant the Mareva injunction highlights the importance of securing assets in disputes involving large sums of money. By freezing the defendants' accounts and assets, the court aims to prevent further dissipation of funds and ensure that the plaintiff's claims can be effectively addressed. The case will continue to unfold as the parties present their arguments and the court makes a determination on the merits of the dispute.
Key points
- The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has frozen the accounts of three energy firms over an alleged debt of $1.602 million and N1.314 billion.
- The dispute arose from unpaid charges related to crude oil storage and related services provided by Gimbrowns Marine Security Oil and Gas Limited.
- The case has been adjourned until October 9, 2026, for mention, when the court will hear arguments on the plaintiff's motion on notice.
