The absence of a defendant’s counsel on Monday stalled hearing in a N5.99 billion oil spill compensation suit filed by members of Aghoro I community in Bayelsa.
The people of Aghoro I in Ekeremor Local Government Area in Bayelsa sued Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) over a May 17, 2018 oil leak from the oil firm’s Trans Ramos Pipeline.
The Federal High Court was told that counsel representing the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami who is a co-defendant in the suit, Mr Abubaka Abdulahi was involved in a ghastly motor accident on Sunday.
Counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr Mohammed Mohammed, told the presiding judge, Justice Isa Ndahen that he received a letter written by Abdulahi who was injured and receiving medical attention in Abuja.
Mohammed, said, Abdulahi in the letter to the court and parties in the case requested for a January adjournment.
Justice Ndahen, then fixed Feb 14 for hearing.
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The plaintiffs in the matter are Mr Victor Akamu, Pastor Erebimienkumor Goddey, Mrs Jane Alex, Miss Edith George, Mr Isreal Tomoney and FASF Associates Ltd on behalf of Aghoro I community at Ekeremor LGA, Bayelsa.
They are seeking redress for the damages caused by the oil spill and are claiming that the N33.49 million offered by SPDC was a far cry from the N5.99 billion claim based on impacted area damage assessment.
The defendants are Shell Petroleum Development Company, Shell International Exploration and Production BV, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. (NAN)
