Rivers Community Threatens Court Action Against Chevron

The Ekwuluo family of Umuochechi in Akwu Obuor community in Etche Local Government  Area of Rivers State, has threatened to institute a  court action against multinational oil company, the Chevron Nigeria Limited, for negligence and forceful acquisition of their land.
The Ekwuluo family also said that they had directed their lawyer, Mr. E.A. Essien, to commence a legal process against Chevron Nigeria Limited on their behalf.
Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt, at the weekend, the spokesperson of the family, His Honour, Jude C. Onyeche, disclosed that the family had directed their lawyer to serve a pre-action notice to the company with a view to begin a proper legal action.
Mr. Jude Onyeche disclosed that the family decided to drag Chevron oil Company to court because of their inability to relinquish their land forcefully entered.
According to him, Chevron Nigeria Limited in 2010, collected large portion of the family land called “Okpuhu” used to construct an access road into her oil location  (Obour 1 location) adding that the company after constructing an access road abandoned and closed the site.
The averred that the company entered the land without any form of payment or compensation to the community despite their passionate plea to them.
Mr. Jude C. Onyeche, who serves as the Chairman of Oyigbo Customary Court opined that the intention of the litigation against Chevron was borne out of the desire by the family to retrieve the said farm land adding that the company has allegedly denied farming rights to the family.