The residents of Ikot Ebidang community and neighbouring villages in Onna local government area, Akwa Ibom state, have filed a lawsuit against Natural Oilfield Service (Sterling Global) Management, seeking compensation for environmental damage caused by a recent noxious gas discharge.
It was gathered that the company had, during its appraisal well drilling, which lasted between August 21st to 23rd, 2023, released toxic substances into the environment of the affected communities.
The noxious substances impacted negatively on 27 communities, destroying their aquatic lives, streams and mangroves.
In suit nos HFC/UY/CS/32/2024 by the Ikot Ebidang community, and HFC/UY/CS/33/2024, by the adjoining communities, the people through the umbrella body of the Akwa Ibom Oil Community Development Network, a human advocacy organization, prayed the court to declare that the activities of the oil company’s well drilling is unlawful, unconstitutional and a total violation of the Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) as it was carried out without first putting in place professional safety and precautionary measures.
The group in a statement by its president general, Apostle Ufot Phenson, Thursday in Uyo, said the communities are also praying the court to direct the management of the company to pay fair and adequate compensation to victims of the gas explosion.
The statement reads: “The people are praying the court to direct Sterling Global to pay fair and adequate compensation to the victims of the gas explosion for all the damages and destructions they have been made to suffer including the denial of sources of livelihoods, health and human rights consequences in line with the international best practices of polluter-pays principles as enshrined in NOSDRA’s regulations 25 and 26, 2011 among others prayers.”