On Wednesday, the Ogoni people of Rivers state finally got a favourable judgment at the Federal High Court in Abuja where Shell Petroleum Company agreed to pay the sum of N45.9B to the people for the losses suffered during the oil spillage that ravaged their communities.
The monetary reward ordered by a Federal High Court ten years ago will be paid to the Ogonis through their lawyer, Chief Lucius Nwosu.
Shell Petroleum Company through its lawyer, Chief A. O Ejelamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria announced the decision to pay up the money while addressing Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court Abuja on Wednesday.
The senior lawyer sought the order of Justice Mohammed to permit payment of the debt through the Chief Registrar of the court in a bank account to be opened for the purpose.
Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High court Abuja endorsed the final decision to pay up the money.
Although the oil company had sought to pay through the Chief Registrar of the court, it was ultimately agreed to pay the amount to the aggrieved people through their lawyer.
The amount was awarded in favour of the Ogoni people by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Lagos division of the Federal High court on June 14, 2010, in his judgment in a suit filed by the Ogoni people.
However, the Ogonis waived the interest on the principal amount as a concession agreed upon during reconciliation.
…Details later
