Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDCN) has agreed to make a payment of N45.9billion as compensation to some Ogoni communities ravaged by oil spills some years ago.
The compensation, which was ordered by a Federal High Court in Lagos about 10 years ago, is to be paid to the affected communities through their lawyer, Lucius Nwosu (SAN).
SPDCN’s lawyer, Aham Ejelamo (SAN), told a Federal High Court in Abuja that his client has resolved to pay the money.
The money was awarded as damages against SPDCN in favour of the Ogoni communities on June 14, 2010.
Justice Ibrahim Buba (then of the Federal High Court, Lagos) gave the verdict in a suit by the representatives of the communities, led by Chief Isaac Osaro Agbara and nine others.
The plaintiffs were said to have agreed to waive the interest on the principal judgment sum as a concession agreed upon during talks leading to the final reconciliatory agreement.
