Absence of counsel stalls hearing of N5.9bn spill compensation suit by Shell’s host community

The absence of a co-defendant’s counsel on Monday stalled the hearing on a N5.99 billion oil spill compensation suit filed by members of Aghoro 1 community in Bayelsa.

The people of Aghoro 1 in Ekeremor Local Government Area (LGA) in Bayelsa sued Shell Petroleum Development Company over a May 17, 2018 oil leak from the oil firm’s Trans Ramos Pipeline.

The Federal High Court was told that counsel representing Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami who is a co-defendant in the suit, Mr Abubaka Abdulahi was involved in a ghastly motor accident on Sunday.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Mohammed Mohammed, told the presiding judge, Justice Isa Ndahen that he was in receipt of a letter written by Abdulahi who was injured and receiving medical care in Abuja.

According to Mohammed, Abdulahi in the letter to the court and parties to the case requested for an adjournment of the case till January 2022 by Justice Ndahen fixed Feb 14 for continuation of hearing.

The pantiff are Mr Victor Akamu, Pastor Erebimienkumor Goddey, Mrs Jane Alex, Miss Edith George, and FASF Associates Ltd on behalf of Aghoro 1 community at Ekeremor LGA, Bayelsa.

They are 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 N5.99 billion claim based on impacted area damage assessment.

Listed as defendants in the suit are, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Shell International Exploration and Production BV, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.