The Ministry of
Petroleum Resources has intervened in the ongoing litigation by Nembe
Communities, hosts to Oil Mining Lease (OML 29).
The OML, was supposed
to be renewed on June 30.
A Federal High Court
sitting in Yenagoa had on June 24 declined an application to halt the renewal
of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 pending, the determination of a suit by Nembe
communities in Bayelsa.
The OML 29 host
communities are seeking an environmental audit of the impact of the oil field
on the host communities, and the implementation of the social obligations of
the host communities by the operator of the oil block amongst others.
At the resumed hearing
on Friday, Counsel to the plaintiffs, M.A. Eyinda told the court that officials
of Ministry of Petroleum Resources had proposed an amicable resolution of the
face-off.
He explained that the
Ministry had prepared a draft Memorandum of Understanding for resolution of all
the issues in the suit by the parties, and sought the input of the communities
at a meeting scheduled for August 27 which did not hold.
However, Counsel to
the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr Agbade Agbade said that although he was
aware of the disposition of his client for an out of court settlement, he had
no update to give the court without recourse to his client.
Eyinda expressed the
desire of the plaintiff to continue with their case while hoping that the
settlement option proposed by the Petroleum Ministry materialises.
The lease expired on
June 30, while the operator of the oilfields had commenced renewal formalities
with the payment of 82 million dollars to the Department of Petroleum
Resources.
Justice Awogboro
Abimbola, heard four pending applications to be joined in the suit from Bayelsa
communities.
Abimbola adjourned the
case until Oct. 12 for ruling on the pending application to be joined.
The judge also fixed
Oct. 18 for continuation of hearing on the substantive suit.
Some 40 chiefs from
Nembe communities seeking to join the suit besieged the court premises and
filled the courtroom to the brim.
The plaintiffs are
Ikaonaworio Eferebo-Igoma, Iyerite Chiefson Awululu-Atubu, Ayebaesin
Edoghotu-Omoh, Markson Amaegbe-Orutari, B.C. Benwari-Yousuo and Doibo Evans
representing OML 29 host communities.
The defendants are the
Attorney-General of the Federation, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Federal
Ministry of Environment and Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria.
Others are Aiteo
Exploration and Production Ltd, Attorney-General of Bayelsa and The Deeds
Registrar, Bayelsa Ministry of Lands.
Shell Petroleum
Development Company in 2015 divested its equity in OML 29 and transferred its
interest in the oil block, including NCTL for 1.7 billion dollars to Aiteo.
However, the host
community, said the divestment was done “without resolving the untold negative
impact of their operations on the people”
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