NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC) & ANOR V. CHIEF STEPHEN ORHIOWASELE & ORS

OLABODE RHODES-VIVOUR, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The respondents as plaintiffs commenced their suit before an Effurun High Court Delta State, presided over by Omo Agege CJ (as he then was) claiming against the appellants (defendants) the sum of Twenty Million Naira for special and general damages for the negligence of the defendants, allowing crude oil spill from its burst oil wells onto the land, swamps creeks, ponds shrines of the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs sued for themselves and as representatives of the Ogbe-Udu Community, in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State. Both courts below found for the respondents. The sum of ₦18,329,350.00 (Eighteen Million, Three Hundred and Twenty-Nine Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty Naira) was awarded by the Trial High Court. The Court of Appeal agreed with the learned trial judge but reduced the judgment sum by ₦2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira). Still dissatisfied with the judgment of the Court of Appeal the appellant have com…