A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has adjourned for hearing on motion to an objection raised by Shell Petroleum Development Company in a matter instituted by an Ogoni group under the aegis of Ogoni Liberation Initiative against the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation.
The Group is seeking for adequate compensation for the Ogoni people and for proper clean up be done to return their damaged lands to its original state, as their farm lands can no longer yield good food.
During the court proceeding at Justice Emmanuel Obille’s court, Counsel to Shell Petroleum Development Company and 2nd Respondent in the matter filed a motion objecting the suit filed by the Claimant.
Justice Obille adjourned to 11th March, 2021, for the Claimant to file counter affidavit to the preliminary objection raised by the 2nd Respondent.
Recall that at the last sitting, the court had advised parties in the matter to settle the case out of court.
Speaking journalists outside the courtroom, with j Counsel to the Ogoni Group, Finjite Amachree, said they will respond to Shell appropriately on point of law, while expressing concern that SHELL’s objection to the suit is a form of delay tactics.
“Last time, the court advised the parties to settle, we went with that mindset because it is better to make peace than war, we were expecting that settlement to take place. However, this morning in court, SHELL filed a motion to our suit. We have taken a date to file our response, we also filed our document in respect to there defence.
“We are not worried it could be a plot to ensure the case takes longer than usual, normally when someone file a motion like this, if it goes against him, then they go to file an appeal, there is something we will do to refuse them liberty to drag on the case”
