-By Victoria Opeyemi
Nigeria’s oil giant and multinational oil company, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), that began exploration activities in the country since 1956 was asked to pay compensation in a case brought by four farmers for wide spread pollution on their land. The judgement was given in the Hague through a virtual court sitting.
Right activities said it is high time the multinational oil companies are held accountable for what they describe as their operational mistakes.
Fidelis Oguru is an old blind man from Bayelsa State, he was among the four farmers who sued the oil giant Shell to a Dutch court in Hague, Netherlands over an oil spill that occurred and destroyed their farm lands making life unbearable for them. Fidelis said, it is as a result of the oil spill that got him blind.
Thirteen years of legal battle against Shell has finally done justice to Fidelis and others as the Court of Appeal in the Hague, Netherlands has ordered the multinational oil company to pay compensation to the farmers.
In his words, Fidelis said, “today, the appeal has been delivered in favour of me and my family. I am very much happy, happier than every other person in this world.”
Some right activists say their feelings about the judgment is victory for the Niger Delta people, the Ogoni and civil society group.
Environmental right activists while commending the judgement at the Dutch Court says the victory is for the people of the Niger Delta region who have suffered environmental pollution and depredation in hands of multinational oil companies.
They said the court has held Shell liable and accountable and ordered the company to pay compensation to the communities. It is also a lesson for the Nigerian judiciary, all things being equal the case ought not to go to the Netherlands, it is a way to appeal to Nigerian legal system including all stakeholders in judiciary to ensure that the right thing is done in dispensing justice.
The court also mandated Shell to stop any other pollution in the two communities affected in Ogoni Rivers State and other communities in Ogbia land in Bayelsa state.
The company should ensure that no further spill occurs in these communities which is the high point of the judgement.
Host communities have described the court judgement as a land mark in the country’s history pointing out that court the judgement against Shell is laudable. It is hope that the oil giant will obey the judgement and be cautious of pollution in the Niger Delta
However, Shell has responded to the judgement that the company is not involved in oil spill in the Niger Delta. None of its operational facilities are involved in such practice.
The company was of the view that it has put in place precautionary measures to curb spillage in the Niger Delta with social investment and welfare that host communities have benefited.
It is not clear if it will seek redress in an upper court.
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