‘Nembe Oil Spill: Ijaw Diaspora Council vows to sue FG, oil companies over alleged negligence’ December 5, 2021

A socio-cultural group based in the United States of America, USA, Ijaw Diaspora Council, IDA, weekend, vowed to sue the Federal Government and oil companies over alleged negligence of Nembe oil spill in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. This was contained in a statement signed by President, IDA, Prof Mondy Selle Gold, and Director of Community Outreach, IDA, Dr Festus Odubo, where the Council gave reasons why it took the decision to file a law suit against the Federal Government and oil companies operating in the area, which include willful failure to comply with relevant local and international laws; failure to carry out in safe manner inspection and maintenance of oil infrastructure in the area; catastrophic destruction of lives and marine environment of Ijaw communities; and others.

…“IDC will be seeking various remedies aimed to put an end to the reckless and criminal destruction of the Ijaw marine environment contrary to the responsibility of Nigeria under the UN Convention of the law of the sea. “The IDC suit will allege that the Nigerian Government and its Joint venture oil companies were grossly negligent and or reckless as to the risk and dangerous consequences it placed on the Ijaw people and their marine environment, that their conduct amounts to knowingly and willfully failing to comply with relevant local and international laws, including but not limited to unwillingness to act in compliance with its responsibilities under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the African Charter.

… “Some of the acts or omissions of the Defendants’ gross negligence as encapsulated by the IDC suit to be filed include the following: The Defendants had a legal duty of care to inspect, monitor, and maintain their oil infrastructure, including OML 29, with the safest, best available technology, in accordance with global standards, consistent with Nigerian law requirements that such infrastructure be maintained to American Petroleum Institute (API) and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standards. The parties clearly failed this responsibility.