The Rivers State High Court has ordered the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and International Container Terminal Services Nigeria Limited (ICTSI Nigeria Limited) to suspend all operations in respect of Berth 12 at the Federal Ocean Terminal, Onne Port Complex pending the determination of applications before the court.
The order was made on 17 July 2026 by the High Court sitting in Port Harcourt in Suit No. NHC/1/CS/2025, filed by Deep Offshore Services Nigeria Limited, against the NPA and ICTSI Nigeria Limited.
Counsel to the claimant, Ama Etuwewe, SAN, said the court ordered all parties to “stay all actions relating to the subject matter of this suit until the ruling on the motions after vacation.”
Etuwewe explained that the order was to maintain the status quo at Berth 12 pending the determination of the pending applications, which have been adjourned to 23 September 2026.
He said no party is allowed to enter into lease agreements, to give new rights or interests, to undertake construction, to take possession, to initiate development or to do any act that can change the existing state of affairs at the facility.
He also warned investors, financial institutions, contractors, prospective lessees, buyers, government agencies and other stakeholders against entering into any transaction involving Berth 12 while the court order remained in force.
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Etuwewe warned that any lease, assignment, financing arrangement, memorandum of understanding, sale, sublease or similar transaction entered into in breach of the subsisting order would be declared null and void and would confer no legal rights or protection on the parties involved.
He said any wilful breach of the court’s order may attract contempt proceedings against the defaulters and attendant legal consequences under the Nigerian law.
The senior advocate advised members of the public and all stakeholders to abide strictly by the court order and refrain from any transactions touching and concerning Berth 12 until the pending applications are decided or the order is varied by the court.