His Royal Majesty King Bubaraye Dakolo, Agada IV of Ekpetiama Kingdom and Chairman, Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers
- King Dakolo, CSO Coalition demand oil giant clean up 70 years of environmental devastation before divestment
In a groundbreaking legal action, His Royal Majesty King Bubaraye Dakolo, Agada IV of Ekpetiama Kingdom, has taken Shell and key federal authorities to court to stop the oil giant from divesting its onshore operations without first addressing $12bn of environmental damage after decades of pollution in Bayelsa State.
Filed at the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, the suit names:
-
Shell,
-
the Minister of Petroleum Resources,
-
Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC),
-
the Attorney General of the Federation as defendants.
The suit seeks to stop the transfer of Shell’s assets pending an agreement on $12bn of environmental cleanup and community compensation.
“Shell wants to leave behind a mess that has ruined our rivers, farmlands, and livelihoods,” said King Dakolo. “This is our land. We will not accept abandonment. We are seeking justice for the people of Ekpetiama and all affected communities.”
The lawsuit builds on the 2023 report by the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission, which revealed that Nigeria needs $12 billion to clean up decades-old oil spills in southern Bayelsa state over a 12-year period.
The case is supported by civil society groups including Social Action Nigeria, HOMEF, BANGOF, Kebetkache, and the HEDA Resource Centre.
The CSOs argue that the divestment violates key provisions of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, The Nigerian Constitution, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), and environmental regulations, and that federal regulators have failed to act in the interest of host communities.
“Shell has polluted, profited, and now wants to escape. We are saying: No. There must be accountability, restoration, and justice,” said Dr. Isaac Osuoka of Social Action Nigeria.
A Chance for Nigeria’s Judiciary to Make History
The plaintiffs are calling on the court to:
-
Restrain Shell from completing its divestment until all obligations are met.
-
Direct NUPRC and other regulators to enforce cleanup and compensation
-
Affirm the environmental rights of host communities in line with constitutional protections
“This is not just a court case. It’s a turning point for environmental justice globally,” said Olanrewaju Suraju of HEDA Resource Centre.
Additionally, Reverend Nnimmo Bassey of HOMEF added “Our judiciary has a chance to show that no company is above the law.” “Shell profited while Bayelsa bled. Now it wants to flee. This case says: not this time.”
The case draws on the findings of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission (BSOEC), which revealed:
-
Cancer-causing pollutants far exceeding safety limits in soil, air, and water
-
Widespread oil spills affecting drinking water and food security
-
Failure to decommission pipelines, tanks, and wellheads still leaking pollutants
-
Health risks from prolonged exposure to hydrocarbons and gas flaring
-
Over 1.5 million residents exposed to toxic levels of oil and gas contamination
-
Water and food sources poisoned by cancer-causing chemicals like benzene and chromium
-
Farmlands and fisheries devastated, pushing communities into economic crisis
-
Widespread failure to decommission rusting oil infrastructure
“What’s happening in the Niger Delta is environmental genocide,” said Reverend Nnimmo Bassey of HOMEF. “We stand with King Dakolo. Shell must clean up before it checks out.”
Source:
t4nu46
lgwgjn
otnb1d
il93pm
t69r88
ctyb46
zet0oa
8zh99k