The host community of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) in Bonny, Rivers State, on Tuesday dragged the oil firm to a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.
The community, Founding and Aboriginal Royal Houses of Bonny Kingdom, also included in the suit; Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Ministry of Petroleum, and the Rivers State Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs, among others.
In the motion before the presiding Judge, Justice Phoebe Ayua, the community asked the firm to pay them N20billion of proceeds accruing to the people as allegedly agreed with them.
Counsel for the Bonny community, Mr. Ikpe Imeh, said he filed an application seeking the leave of the court to serve all parties in the matter through substituted means.
In a reaction to the application, counsel for NLNG, Elechi Sunday, challenged the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit, urging it to hear their motion first before that of the applicant.
However, Justice Ayua, after hearing the arguments by both lawyers, granted the application of the Founding Royal Houses of Bonny Kingdom to serve all parties through substituted means.
The case was adjourned till January 17, 2022, for hearing of the motion.
Speaking with journalists after the hearing, counsel for the applicants said that his clients are in court to seek justice for the alleged inability of the oil companies to fulfill their Corporate Social Responsibilities.