NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC) NIGERIAN PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANYLTD (NPDC) V. CHIEF STEPHEN ORHIOWA SELE MR. SIMON DADA ODJERAVMEN MR. SAMSON UIEBU UBA (SUING FOR THEMSELVES AND ON BEHALF OF OGBE- UDU COMMUNITY, OKPE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF DELTA STATE)

RHODES-VIVOUR JSC (Delivering the Lead Judgment): The respondents as plaintiffs commenced their suit before Effurun High CourtDelta State, presided over by Omo Agege CJ (as he then was) claiming against the appellants (defendants) the sum of N20,000,000.00 (twenty million naira) for special and general damages for the negligence of the defendants, allowing crudeoil spill from its burst oil wells onto the land, swamps, creeks, ponds and streams 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 N18,329, 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 N2,000,000.00 (two million naira). Still dissatisfied with the judgment of the Court of Appeal, the appellant ha…