Shell files appeal in court to challenge Jurisdiction over N700bn spill compensation
The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has challenged the Federal High Court in Yenagoa’s jurisdiction to hear a N700 billion oil spill compensation suit filed by residents of Bayelsa’s Aghoro 1 community.
The residents of Aghoro 1 in Bayelsa’s Ekeremor Local Government Area sued SPDC in Federal High Court in Yenagoa over an oil leak from the oil company’s Trans Ramos Pipeline on May 17, 2018.
When the case came up for hearing, SPDC’s counsel, Mr Michael Amadi, told the court that the oil company is contesting the court’s jurisdiction and intends to appeal to the Court of Appeal.
Read Also: Gunmen storm Celestial Church, kidnap two people, and demand N50m ransom
He also urged the court to put the case on hold pending the outcome of the interlocutory appeal, as required by the hierarchy of courts, because the Court of Appeal was already hearing SPDC’s appeal.
However, despite the fact that the records claimed by the defendant’s counsel were in front of the court, trial judge Justice Isa Dashen stated that he had yet to go through them in order to keep up with the case’s developments.
He claimed that he had the right to review the Court of Appeal’s procedures and records before the matter was put on hold.
He postponed the hearing until October 19 to allow him to review the processes that had been filed with the court, and he stated that he would wait for the appellate court’s decision as required by the rules.
On behalf of Aghoro 1 community at Ekeremor LGA, Bayelsa, the pantiffs are Mr Victor Akamu, Pastor Erebimienkumor Goddey, Mrs Jane Alex, Miss Edith George, Mr Israel Tomonye, and FASF Associates Ltd.
They are seeking redress for the oil spill’s damages, claiming that SPDC’s offer of N33.49 million was a far cry from the N700 billion claim based on impacted area damage assessment.
Read Also: Internet Explorer will no longer function from today (June 15),
Shell Petroleum Development Company, Shell International Exploration and Production BV, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation are named as defendants in the suit.
