The Supreme Court has dismissed an application by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited to review and set aside a N17 billion judgment entered against it in favour of Ogoni communities in 2019.

A five-member panel of justices led by Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour yesterday held that the application by Shell lacked merit and dismissed it.

The Supreme Court had in January 11, 2019 upheld the ruling of a Court of Appeal which had awarded N17 billion damages against the oil giant for oil spillage in Ejama-Ebubu in Tai Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.

In the lead judgment written by Justice Centus Nweze and read by Justice Samuel Chukwudumebi Oseji, the apex court upheld a preliminary objection raised by 10 traditional chiefs from the affected communities in Rivers State challenging the oil giant’s application.

The apex court affirmed the finality of its earlier judgement of January 11, 2019 which settled the oil spill case after dragging for 31 years between Shell and the communities.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.