East Timor will take allegations of Australian spying to the International Court of Justice, accusing espionage around the negotiations for a lucrative oil and gas treaty in 2004.

East Timorese officials claim a recent raid in which ASIO officers seized documents from a Canberra lawyer’s office was in violation of its national sovereignty.

The new claims allege that spying activities gave Australia an advantage in the negotiations that ended in a $40 billion treaty covering exploration and extraction rights for a massive oil and gas field. .

East Timor wants the treaty overturned due to its allegedly nefarious foundations.

It has also asked the International Court of Justice for Australia to provide a list of every document seized and “destroy beyond recovery every copy of such documents and data that is in Australia's possession or control”, within five days.

East Timor’s final request is for Australia to cover its legal costs and formally apologise.