An Edo State High Court sitting in Benin has restrained Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology Company Limited (CCETC) from entering the land of Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company Limited pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

Hon. Justice Mary Itsueli — vacation judge, gave the restraining order in an ex-parte motion filed before the Honourable Court by Emmanuel Usoh, counsel to Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company Limited.

In the suit marked: B/242/2025, Ossiomo Investment Limited, Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company Limited, Ossiomo Offsites and Utility Limited, and Quadrant Gas Development Company Limited are the claimants, while Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology Company Limited (CCETC) stands as defendant.

Usoh had, on behalf of Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company Limited, approached the court and sought an interim injunction restraining CCETC from gaining access to the land or utilising any property belonging to the claimant.

Usoh sought an interim order restraining “the Defendant whether by itself, agents, representatives, Directors, staff, privies, assigns, or anyone directly or otherwise and howsoever described, from parading itself as a member or a shareholder of the 2nd Claimant or relying on or using the Joint Venture Agreement pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”

In the enrolment of order dated September 11, 2025, Justice Itsueli said, having “given a most careful consideration to the application, supporting affidavit and annexures, I am minded to grant the interim order of injunction.”

The vacation judge thereafter ordered that, “The Defendant, whether by itself, privies, assigns, and anyone directly or otherwise and howsoever described, is restrained from accessing or utilizing the infrastructure of the Claimants, including the 33KVA lines, gas engines, and gas infrastructure built by the Claimants to supply gas to the power plant and generate electricity supply, whether by bulk sales or transmission to corporate entities or individuals in Edo State, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed.

Hon. Itsueli also ordered, “The Defendant, whether by itself, agents, representatives, Directors, staff, privies, assigns, or anyone directly or otherwise and howsoever described, is restrained from parading itself as a member or shareholder of the 2nd Claimant or relying on or using the Joint Venture Agreement pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed.”

Recall that Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company Limited and CCETC have been in an ownership tussle, which led to the power plant being shut down on September 1, 2025.

Speaking during a press briefing on the latest in the power tussle between Ossiomo and its investment partners, Usoh said CCETC, being aware of the restraining order, had so far approached an arbitral panel in Singapore.

He said: “CCETC, being aware of the restraining order, also immediately approached the arbitral panel for arbitration in Singapore. The rationale behind this update is for the whole world to know that Singapore, being the seat of economic arbitration globally, is aware of the issues happening between Ossiomo and CCETC. We had the opportunity of seeing the copy of the arbitration, and we are replying accordingly.”

On Ossiomo and Edo State Government, Usoh disclosed: “Our relationship with the Edo State Government is what we call a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Ossiomo develops power and sells to Edo State Government at market value. They are our landlord; we cannot hold a grudge against the government. My appeal to the government is to do business with us so that everyone in Edo will benefit.”