Indigenes of Andoni (Obolo) ethnic nationality in the oil-rich Rivers State, under the aegis of Andoni Supreme Youth Congress (ASYC), have dragged three multinational crude oil and gas companies to court over a contentious oil field.
The three major multi-national hydro-carbon, crude oil and gas producers in the suit are Total E & P Nigeria Limited, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
In a suit with No. BHC/8412009, the Andonis are asking the court to declare against the oil conglomerates that’ the huge Arnenam/Kpono oil field jointly operated by the defendants situates in the Andoni local council area territory in Rivers State and not at Akwa-Ibom State
The youths also plead the court to order the three defendants to change the name of the oil field in contention from “Amenam/Kpono” oil fie\d to “Andoni” oil field.
The suit, which was instituted by Deacon Peter Timothy and three others, for themselves and as representing the Andoni Supreme Youth Congress (ASYC), further seeks an order directing the oil companies to pay Andoni communities the. sum ofN700 billion as special and general damages.
According to the claimants, since the commencement of the defendants’ operational activities at the Amenam/Kpono offshore oil field, about six years ago, till date, the companies had wrongfully paid all the compensations, homage, royalties and other entitlements that accrued and are still accruing to Andoni communities in Rivers State to communities in Akwa-Ibom State.
They further averred in their 30-paragraph statement of claim that Andoni communities in Rivers State are the people entitled to payment of adequate and commensurate compensations, royalties and other accruable benefits being the defendants’ host communities with regard to the massive Amenam/Kpono oil field.
Meanwhile, a date has not yet been fixed for the hearing of what promises to be an epic offshore oil field case which was filed at the Bori High Court recently.