Nigeria, Dec. 16 -- The Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, has dismissed a suit challenging key provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) relating to host community liability, affirming the legal framework governing Nigeria's oil and gas sector.

Delivering judgement, the judge, Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, threw out all claims filed by the Centre for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (CHURAC), which had sought to invalidate sections of the PIA on constitutional and human rights grounds. The judge delivered the judgement on Friday, details of which PREMIUM TIMES gathered on Tuesday.

CHURAC had approached the court to contest Sections 257(2) and 257(3) of the PIA, which impose liability on host communities for acts of vandalism...