By Jimitota Onoyume

WARRI—To avert fresh crisis in the Niger Delta region, Shell  Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, has been urged  to comply with a court order by Justice George  Omereji of a Rivers State High Court against it, delivered  on March 10, 2011.

Shell engineer

Making the  appeal in a letter addressed to the Managing Director of the oil company and obtained in  Warri, Delta State,  lawyer  to the 1st to 6th claimants (for themselves and representing  Oloma Elders council and Oloma community) Mr J.  Chinwe,  said the alleged  failure of SPDC to comply with the court judgment  could  lead a contempt  suit against it.

“Our client persisted in the spirit of justice and equity and gladly on March 10, 2011, the court as per O. Omerjeji J., entered judgment in our clients’ favour. It is important to point out that among the highpoints of the judgment against SPDC as 1st dependant, was the nullification of the agreement SPDC entered into with the parties sued as 2nd and 3rd defendants in the suit and also the perpetual injunction restraining the 2nd and 3rd defendants from dealing with SPDC in any capacity on behalf of our clients community.

“It is, therefore, most distasteful and reprehensible that despite the orders of the court against SPDC and the 2nd and 3rd defendants in the suit, SPDC has resisted all attempts at enforcing the judgment of the High Court of Rivers State. It is on record that SPDC never appealed the judgment before any court but had chosen to flagrantly disregard the judgment.”