According to the Nigerian Tribune news report, The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) said, on Wednesday, that it had secured a court judgment ordering an oil firm to pay a fine of N68 million for failure to report an oil spill.
According to a statement issued by Mr Henshaw Ogubike, Head of Public Affairs, NOSDRA, on behalf of the Director-General, Dr Peter Idabor, the judgment was delivered by a Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State.
NOSDRA had in March 5, 2011, dragged Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Ltd (SEEPCO) to court for failure to report an oil spill incident at the Okwuibome Location (OPL 280).
Ogubike said that the court, presided over by Justice Olatoregun-Ishola, held that SEEPCO breached the NOSDRA Act 2006.
“Delivering judgment on the case on October 29, 2015, Justice Olatoregun-Ishola upheld the submissions by counsel to NOSDRA.
“The court held that SEEPCO was in breach of Section 6 (2) of the Agency's Act when it failed to report in writing the oil spill incident at OKWC and that the Agency had the powers under its enabling Act to impose the fine of N68 million.
“It would be recalled that NOSDRA commenced the legal action against SEEPCO on Feb. 17, 2012.
“NOSDRA sought, among others, a declaration that the defendant was in direct breach of Section 6 (2) of the plaintiff's enabling Act when it failed to report in writing the oil spill incident of March, 2011 at the Okwuibome Location,” the statement read in part.
I am happy at all the efforts they put into all the checks and sanctions. But I hope that a large part of the fine charged will be used to sort out issues affecting the oil spill areas or community. It is not enough to charge and fine, accountability is key.
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