news

Federal Court Dismisses NOSDRA Suit Over Niger Delta Oil Spills

Published

11 months ago

November 26, 2025

Federal High Court dismisses NOSDRA oil spill suit, ruling fishermen lacked legal standing over unreported pipeline incidents.

A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, presided over by Hon. Justice E.A. Obile, has struck out a suit filed against the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), declaring the action as lacking merit.

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The suit, filed in 2018 under reference FHC/ABJ/CS/1045/2018, was instituted by representatives of 998 fishermen and women from Yayo-Ama village in Bolo community, Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The plaintiffs sought to compel NOSDRA to take action on two alleged oil spills reported in 2008 and 2009 at the Bolo-West oil fields, which they claimed were caused by equipment failure on Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria’s 24-inch Bomu–Bonny Trans-Nigeria pipeline.

NOSDRA stated that although the case was initially filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, it was later transferred to the Port Harcourt Division.

The court found that the plaintiffs had not presented evidence showing that Shell had reported the spills to NOSDRA in line with Section 6(2) of the NOSDRA (Establishment) Act, 2006.

The judgment further highlighted that since the alleged spiller had not been fined by NOSDRA under Section 6(3) of the Act, the plaintiffs lacked legal standing (locus standi) to initiate the case.

Consequently, the suit was dismissed in its entirety.

In its ruling, the court underscored the statutory obligation of oil operators to report all spills to NOSDRA within 24 hours, a requirement designed to ensure prompt detection, rapid response, and effective mitigation of environmental harm.

Non-compliance carries an automatic penalty of ₦500,000 per day.

Also read: Federal High Court Dismisses Rivers Funds Suit

NOSDRA emphasised that the judgment reinforces regulatory authority, strengthens corporate accountability, and supports environmental protection in the Niger Delta, sending a clear message to operators on the importance of transparency and adherence to environmental laws.

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crime

Police Arrest Convicted Drug Dealer, Rescue 14-Year-Old Boy in Bauchi

Published

1 hour ago

October 27, 2026

Peculiar Adirika

Bauchi drug dealer arrest leads to the rescue of a 14-year-old boy allegedly used as a drug courier and the recovery of suspected illicit substances

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old convicted drug dealer and rescued a 14-year-old boy who was allegedly being used to deliver illicit drugs in the state.

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The command said operatives of its Violent Crimes Response Unit intercepted the teenager during a routine patrol and recovered a granular whitish substance suspected to be methamphetamine.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.

According to Habib, the operatives, led by the unit’s officer-in-charge, intercepted the minor, identified as Samuel Nkemakolan Kosi, at about 11 am on October 26, 2026, while he was allegedly on his way to deliver the suspected drug, also known as Ice, to a customer.

The statement said the teenager told investigators that he had been sent by Samuel Ogochukwu, a 22-year-old convicted drug dealer, to make the delivery.

“Upon interrogation, the minor confessed that he was sent by one Samuel Ogochukwu, 22 years old, a convicted drug dealer, to make the delivery,” Habib said.

Following the information, detectives traced Ogochukwu to his location and arrested him.

A search of the suspect’s shop and residence reportedly led to the recovery of 3.5 grammes of a substance suspected to be methamphetamine, 17 sachets of 100mg tramadol capsules, five sachets of 300mg pregabalin capsules and seven sachets of diazepam.

The police also recovered 12 Exol tablets, two wraps of a substance known as Yellow Boys and one sachet of Shine Shine Leather.

Habib said the principal suspect told investigators that he received supplies of illicit drugs through waybills from Onitsha, Anambra State.

The police spokesman added that the 14-year-old had been handled in accordance with juvenile best practices and would be reunited with his family after counselling.

“The 14-year-old minor has been handled in line with juvenile best practices and will be reunited with his family after counselling, while the principal suspect will be charged to court upon completion of investigation,” the statement said.

The Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, commended the operatives for their work and urged the public to remain alert to criminal activity.

According to Habib, the commissioner said four major drug busts and subsequent convictions recorded within 10 days demonstrated the command’s continued efforts to combat drug trafficking.