» Oil Spill: After 32 Years, Shell To Pay N30 Million To Four Communites In Delta «

A Supreme Court on Friday has ordered the
Shell Petroleum Development Company
(SPDC) of Nigeria Limited to pay a
compensation of N30,288,681 to four
communities in Delta State, over oil spillage
incidents.
The four communities – Obotobo,
Sokebolo, Ofogbene (Ezon Burutu) and
Ekeremor Zion (Ezon Asa) – had, through
some of their leaders, instituted separate
suits against the oil company before the
then Bendel State High Court in 1983.
A High Court in the then Bendel State had in
a judgment on May 27, 1997, asked Shell to
pay the sum of N4,095,085 to Obotobo;
N13,278,306 to Sokebolo; N7,392,589 to
Ofogbene (Ezon Burutu) and N5,522,701 to
Ekeremor Zion (Ezon Asa). But Shell were
dissatisfied with the judgement and took the
case to the court of Appeal.
On May 22, 2000, the Court of Appeal in
Benin City dismissed Shell’s appeal and
affirmed the judgment of the trial court.
Once again, a dissatisfied Shell, further
appealed to the Supreme Court.
The Justice John Fabiyi-led panel of the Apex
Court dismissed the appeal filed by Shell on
Friday holding that the appeal lacked merit,
awarded N500,000 cost against Shell and in
favour of each of the communities.
Justice Kumai Akaahs, who read the lead
judgment, also held that the damages
awarded in favour of the communities were
not baseless.
Other members of the panel – Justice John
Fabiyi, Clara Ogunbiyi, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun
and Chima Nweze – agreed with the lead
judgment.