Court issues Shell 21 days ultimatum to pay Ogoni indigenes N45.9bn fine

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday issued 21 days ultimatum to Shell Petroleum Company to pay N45.9 billion to the Ogoni people in Rivers State.

The presiding Judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, giving the order on Wednesday insisted that Shell must make the payment within 21 days.

The penalty is a cost awarded against Shell many years ago for oil spillage in Ogoni land.

Counsel to Shell Petroleum Company, Aham Ejelamo, in his submission, told the court that his client had agreed to make the payment. The counsel requested approval for the payment to be made through the Registrar of the court in a bank to be opened for that purpose.

Justice Mohammed, however, in his judgment, declined  the request and ordered that the payment be made within the period given through the account of the Counsel to the Ogoni people, Lucius Nwosu.

The Judge maintained that the order was in line with the decision of both the High Court and the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The suit involving the Ogoni people and Shell has been ongoing for about 31 years.

The presiding Judge of Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Buba, had in a judgment on June 14, 2010,  awarded the cost against Shell Petroleum Company for the sufferings inflicted on the people of Ogoni.

The Supreme Court subsequently upheld the judgement of the lower court. However, Shell Petroleum Company proceeded for further judicial concession, and refused to pay the cost.

Justice Mohammed explained on Wednesday, stating that conceding to Shell application would amount to burying the judgement of the Supreme Court in any contrary judgement.