The Ilaje community in Ondo State has warned the public against participating in Shell Petroleum Development Company’s (SPDC) planned sale of its onshore oil business assets in Nigeria.

This warning was contained in a caveat emptor issued by lawyers representing Prince Afolabi Akinruntan and 1,215 members of the community who are plaintiffs in an ongoing lawsuit against Shell.

The plaintiffs had earlier obtained a Mareva injunction from a Federal High Court barring Shell from tampering with or disposing of assets linked to its Nigerian onshore oil operations. This was about the substantive suit No: FHC/AK/CS/68/2023.

However, Shell recently announced plans to sell its stake in the onshore business despite the injunction.

In their caveat, the Ilaje community lawyers stated that any persons or entities involved in buying or attempting to buy the assets would be acting in contravention of a valid court order.

The community enjoined members of the public and the named prospective buyers to act in good faith and desist from participating in the asset sale until the court case is determined.

Certified copies of the Mareva injunction and caveat warning issued by Ndarani (SAN) & Co. law firm were also made public.

The lawyers asserted that the community reserves the right to legally resist any continued violation of the assets freeze order by Shell or enabling parties.