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Shell loses 32-yr legal battle to N’Delta villages

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Four communities in the former Bendel State, on Friday had their prayers answered by the Supreme Court in a 32-year-old case filed against the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited in 1983.

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.

The apex court upheld the judgment of the Bendel State High Court in a judgment on May 27, 1997, and ordered Shell to pay the four communities, now part of Delta State thus: 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).

On May 22, 2000, the Court of Appeal in Benin City dismissed Shell’s appeal and affirmed the judgement of the trial court.

Dissatisfied with the Court of Appeal’s judgement, Shell had 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 and awarded N500,000 cost against Shell and in favour of each of the communities.

It added that the payment of compensation was made to each of the various communities for loss of income suffered by the community members, who had a right to fish in the creeks located in the community… and “for the temporary loss of fishing right caused by the oil spillages”.

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