Obong Effiong Archianga and nine others representing Ibeno Clan in Akwa Ibom State on Monday won a court case against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mobil Production Nigeria Unlimited, and Exxon Mobil Corporation at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
According to the court, there was no evidence before the court that the second defendant curtailed flaring of gas, nor carried out any clean-up activity in the community, nor paid compensation for oil spillages from its pipelines.
It, however, awarded N82 billion against the 1st and 2nd defendants adding that it must be paid within 14 days or it will attract a post-judgment interest of 8 per cent per annum.
The court also affirmed that the first defendant must ensure its venture operators clean up, detoxify, and rehabilitate the land ecosystem, underground water, and air quality of the plaintiffs.
The court also said despite that the third defendant is a foreign company, it can sue and be sued in Nigeria.
It added that the plaintiff had failed to prove the ownership of the second defendant by the third defendant.