Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Federal High Court in Yenagoa has adjourned ruling on the N700billion oil spill compensation suit filed by Aghoro I community in Bayelsa State against the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, to March 22nd, 2022.
Recall that members of Aghoro I in Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State, dragged SPDC to court, over the May 17, 2018 oil spills from the Trans Ramos Pipeline, operated by the Dutch firm in the area.
The community is seeking redress for the damages cause by the oil spill and are claiming that the N33.49 million offered by SPDC was a far cry from the N700billion claim based on impacted area damage assessment.
The plaintiffs are Mr Victor Akamu, Pastor Erebimienkumor Goddey, Mrs Jane Alex, Miss Edith George, Mr Isreal Tomoney and FASF Associates Ltd on behalf of Aghoro I community in Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State.
While the defendants in the suit are, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Shell International Exploration and Production BV, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, well as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
When the suit came up for hearing of pending motions on Monday, Counsel to SPDC, Yusuph Mustapha, SAN, informed the court that he had filed another motion challenging the jurisdiction to hear the case, because it was statute barred.
Mustapha told the court that he was also seeking the relief of the court to approach the Court of Appeal to interprete the statutes, as it concerns one of the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.
While Counsel to the plaintiffs, Mohammed Mohammed, SAN, told the court that he was to argue against the motion brought by the defence counsel without an address, as it was merely a ploy to delay justice.
Mohammed said it was strange and a breach of procedure for a party to seek leave of a trial court to approach the appellate court on a motion, which he described as an attempt to buy time and frustrate the plaintiffs.
After listening to both parties, the Trial Judge, Justice Isa Ndahen, urged counsel to both parties in the case to formally file their responses to the new motion, to enable him rule on them by the next adjourned date.
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