A Federal High
Court has ordered Mobil Nigeria to pay N10 billion to oil communities in Lagos
over oil spillage.
The plaintiffs had
sought a declaration that the defendant’s continuing failure to clean the
environment and restore the ecosystem of their lands and waters was against the
law.
They noted that the region was favourable to
the occupation and business and failure to clear the spillage was tantamount to
violation of their right to life.
They also prayed for a declaration that the Plaintiffs,
whose representatives signed the release forms in favour of the defendant,
carried out same by undue influence.
They argued that by such undue influence, the
document is rendered null and void.
The plaintiffs “prayed the court to
hold that the document purporting to release the defendant from effecting
post-impact remediation programmes to restore the Plaintiffs’ environment is
null and void.”
They asked the court order the defendant to
clean up the environment and restore it to its original state.
They asked for the oil company to pay N8.4
billion with interest at the rate of 10% per
annum from Jan. 26, 1998 until judgment was
delivered.
They also sought payment of interest on the
same rate until full payment by the defendant.
Justice Ibrahim Buba in his judgment agreed with the plaintiff
and asked the oil company to pay the requested money but cancelled the
interest.
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Source: Naij.com
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