A Federal high court, sitting in Lagos, has ordered that all court processes filed in a suit instituted against National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, (NOSDRA), by music Icon, Dr. Tee Mac Omatshola be served on all the defendants.
The defendants in the suit are the Federal Ministry of Environment, Oil magnate, Mr Peter Dunia, an environmentalist, Mr Francis Monday and a company, Gbutse Property Limited.
The order of the court followed an application filed and argued on behalf of the plaintiff by his counsel, Mr. Dada Awosika.
In an affidavit sworn to by Dr. Tee Mac, he averred that on December 20, 2011, there was an oil spill at Bonga Oil Field which was under the control of Shell Nigerian Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), resulting in over 40,000 barrels of crude oil spilling into the marine environment, causing utter devastation to marine and human lives.
The spillage was caused by equipment failure from snapped loading holes under water. The spill was alleged to have covered about 185 kilometers along the coast of Ekeremor, Southern Ijaw, Brass, Warri South West and Burutu areas of Delta and Bayelsa States
Dr Tee Mac averred further that December 22, 2011, Mr Dunia called and informed him that some of the community leaders affected by the spillage wanted him to represent their interest in a bid to follow due process in seeking redress for the destruction caused by the spillage.
“He accepted the request to represent the communities, organised press conferences, engaged the services of experts and enlisted the services of Norwegian Government. He also hired the services of a law firm, GMO Legal as consultant while a petition was sent to House of Representative as well as NOSDRA and the Federal Ministry of Environment for immediate action to be taken.
“It was agreed that compensation that would be paid to the affected communities shall be sixty percent to the communities and fourty percent to be earmarked for commissions, Attorneys, consultants and to repay all funds raised by him for the exercise,” he averred.
Dr Tee Mac stated further that, in order to forestall acrimony, Dunia alongside Mr Francis Amona Monday Gbutse Property and himself agreed to a new sharing formula of the commission payable to the agents as follows: Mr Dunia 30 percent, Mr Francis Anoma 20 percent, Legal 20 percent, himself 25 percent, but they refused to execute any document to that effect, rather, he stated that they have been doing everything to scheme him out of the deal.
The House of Representative and NOSDRA have directed SNEPCO to pay compensation to the affected communities.
Consequently, Dr Tee Mac is urging the court to declare that it is an act repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience for the defendants to edge out, sidetrack and bye pass him from the commission payable to them from the compensation directed to be paid. Justice Saliu Saidu, has adjourned the matter to of February 18, 2016 for hearing.