Hearing in the suit seeking to stop the lease OML 29 by Aiteo pending before the Federal High Court, Yenagoa, could not go on Thursday due to the absence of the trial judge, Awogboro Abimbola of Court 2.
Abimbola was absent and could not hear the case due to the loss of her mother, and court officials informed both parties that the hearing would commence May 16, the next adjourned date.
The people of Nembe-Bassambiri in Bayelsa State had urged the Court to halt the renewal of lease for OML 29 to Aiteo pending the outcome of a substantive suit before the court.
The development is sequel to plans by the Minister of Petroleum Resources to renew the lease of OML 29 oil bloc to Aiteo for $82 million without regard to the position of the community in Suit No. FHC/YNG/CS/62/2015.
The plaintiffs are Ikaonaworio Eferebo-Igoma, Iyerite Chiefson Awululu-Atubu, Ayebaesin Edoghotu-Omoh, Markson Amaegbe-Orutari, B.C. Benwari-Yousuo and Doibo Evans representing OML 29 host communities.
The application sought an order restraining the Minister of Petroleum Resources from granting any application for the renewal of OML 29 “beyond the subsisting 30-year term.”
The case was slated for hearing on the motion on notice, but the court urged both parties to continue ongoing settlement moves and inform the court of any progress made at the next adjourned date.
Reacting to the adjournment, Diewerio Wuku, counsel to the Opu Nembe Council of Chiefs, said more communities in the Nembe Kingdom had indicated interest in joining the suit.
Wuku stated: “The courtroom was filled to the brim as more chiefs from Nembe who are seeking to join the case were disappointed at the court not sitting and their interest to join is welcome.
“The Nembe chiefs resolved to approach the courts to seek redress to avoid people resorting to self help.”
Also reacting, Nengi James, a Nembe chief and civil rights activist, urged the judiciary to rise to the occasion and dispense justice to the people, saying, “We are used to the antics of the oil companies and we are hopeful that the judiciary will rise up to the occasion. If they have access to everything, they should know that we have access to the creeks.”
