Shell Loses Bid to Stop N17bn Compensation to Ejamah Community

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…The Oil Giant may Pay More.

Indigenes of Ejamah community in Eleme Local Government Area took to the streets to celebrate the decision of the Supreme Court to dismiss the request by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria to vacate the N17b judgment against the company for an oil spill in the community almost 50 years ago.

The Supreme Court had dismissed an application filed by Dutch oil giants, Shell seeking to set aside its January 11, 2019 judgment upholding a N17bilion damages awarded against the oil company.

The Supreme Court had in the January 11, 2019 decision, upheld an earlier judgment by the Court of Appeal, affirming a June 14, 2010 judgment of the Federal High Court which awarded the damages against Shell over an oil spill at Ejama-Ebubu in Eleme Local Government Area of River State in the early 1970.

On Friday, Justice Samuel Osuji, who read the lead ruling of the Supreme Court’s panel, prepared by Justice Cenrus Nweze, held that the application by Shell, asking it to revisit its earlier judgment, was unmeritorious.

Commenting on the Supreme Court’s decision, Lucius Nwosu (SAN), who led the legal team of the community, said the judgment sum, with interest, now stands in the region of N160 billion.