The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered parties in a legal dispute over the “Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit” name to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case.

The order followed an application by the founder of the Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit, Kenule Nwiya Jnr, challenging the alleged move by the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce to organise an event using the disputed name.

Kenule Nwiya Jnr told the court that the name was legally protected through trademark registration and argued that the summit had, over the years, evolved into a recognised platform for economic dialogue, investment promotion and regional development in the Niger Delta.

He maintained that years of investment, advocacy and sustained engagement had gone into building the platform, warning that allowing another organisation to operate under the same name could create confusion and erode the goodwill attached to the summit.

Through his lawyers, Nwiya urged the court to halt preparations for the proposed event until the substantive suit was determined. His legal team argued that allowing the event to proceed could create circumstances that would be difficult to reverse, making it necessary for the court to preserve the existing position.

Ruling on the application, Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu directed all parties to maintain the status quo and respect the authority of the court while pursuing the dispute through the appropriate legal channels.

“All parties should maintain the status quo as at today, pending the determination of the matter.

“That is the Order of this Court. The motion they served on you and that Order served on him has not been vacated,” the judge said.

The ruling comes against the backdrop of an existing suit and injunction concerning the dispute, which originated from a court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Reacting to the development, Nwiya described the court’s order as a significant step towards safeguarding the integrity of the summit, which he said had been built over several years as a platform for economic dialogue, investment promotion and regional development.

He applauded the judiciary for ensuring that disputes are subjected to due process and appealed to organisations considering investing in activities linked to the disputed name to exercise caution pending the resolution of the case.

“I also want to use this opportunity to appeal to organisations that may have planned to invest their resources in such a project to exercise caution and allow the legal process to run its course.

“The Niger Delta Governors, Access Bank and the Niger Delta Development Commission should also be mindful of the subsisting court processes and ensure that their actions remain consistent with the authority of the courts.

“We need investment in the region. We need to create jobs and provide our young people with meaningful opportunities for livelihood. This can only be achieved through a transparent, credible and due process that commands the confidence of all stakeholders,” he said.

Nwiya expressed confidence that the judicial process would ultimately resolve the dispute fairly.

He said the Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit remained committed to advancing economic development, investment opportunities and constructive dialogue across the region, while allowing the court to determine the issues before it.