SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT CO. NIGERIA LTD.
V.
ORUWARI & ORS.
PAUL ADAMU GALINJE J.C.A, (Delivering the Leading Judgment): In their final amended statement of claim dated 1/12/2008 and deemed filed on the 31/3/2009 the Respondents were herein who were plaintiffs at the Federal High court sitting at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, claimed for themselves and as representing 82 fishing communities the following reliefs:
1. A declaration that the 28, 324 claimants represented by the' plaintiffs on record are entitled to compensation arising from the Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited Trunkline Nembe Creek Spillage of 22nd and 23rd December, 2003.
2. An order that the 28, 324 claimants be paid a sum equal to the sum paid to each claimant in the Defendant's list or alternatively the sum of N500,000.00 which is N14,162,000.00 to each of the 28,324 claimants in the plaintiff's list.
The Appellant filed a 14 paragraph statement of defence.
Pleadings having been filed and exchanged the case was set down for trial. The respondents called two witn…