Egi Gas Eruption: Total Risks N20bn Suit

Landlords and owners of farmlands within the circumference of the recent Egi Gas eruption in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Rivers State, have threatened a N12billion law suit against Total Exploration and Production Nigerian Limited over the recent gas eruption which destroyed farmlands in the  area.
A communiqué made available to newsmen at the end of a meeting in Port Harcourt, also gave the company a 14 day ultimatum to enter into negotiation with the view to paying the compensation or faced a mass protest.
The communiqué tagged Re-Demand for Adequate compensation Notice of intention to commence legal action against Total E and P Nigeria Limited”, regretted that the company has refused all peaceful entreaties made to it by the claimants with the views to ensuring amicable resolution of the matter.
They condemned the declaration by the company that the gas eruption did not have significant impact on Egiland, stressing that having exhausted  their patience, the claimants have resolved to take their destiny in their own hands.
“Our pursuit for justice will not be deterred by the unpatriotic few in the community.
The claimants families will ultimately triumph over those whose authority is not  derived from the collective wishes of Egi people”, it said.
The claimants also warned the management of Total E/P against the policy of divide and rule, noting that no individual or association was mandated to represent them except their lawful attorney as Egi custom and tradition does not give power to any feudal lord, individual or association .
Solicitor to the claimants, Barrister Chikordi Onyige Ordu described the demands of the claimants as very legitimate inview of the fact that the gas eruption had rendered them without any source of livelihood.
She said that the claimants/land owners are demanding a ten years post remediation impact as no farming or fishing can take place in the affected areas.
Also Elder Gift Elemele from Obite said that he has lost all his farmlands to the incident.
He decried the poor and unfriendly disposition of the company towards the claimants and urged for adequate compensation.
Also speaking, Mr Nwisu Chilekwe from Egita community said that all his farm lands have been lost to the incident.