Some indigenes of sixteen communities in Egi Kingdom of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest against Total Energies at its head office in Port Harcourt over alleged disobedience to court orders.
The protesters who carried placards with different inscriptions such as TotalEnergies Must Obey Court Orders, TotalEnergies Must Respect Egi People’s Choices among others barricaded the entrance of the multinational oil firm at the Trans Amadi Axis of Port Harcourt, Rivers State demanding the firm respect a court order that stops them from appointing members of the PIA Board in the area.
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Recall that Justice STEPHEN DALYOP-PAM had on the 25th of May, 2023 in a suit filed by Chief EBENEZER HART-ELEBA and three others against Total Energies and ten others issued a restraining order against the defendants or their agents or acting through bank to from approving or releasing of fund from the Obagi Oilfield Host Communities Development Trust Fund pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
The court had also issued a restraining order in a suit by GOSPEL HART and five others against ISAAC UCHENDU and seven others from presenting themselves, organizing, attending, or participating or taking part in an inauguration as members of Board of Trustees of Obagi Oilfields Host Communities Development Trust Fund for the OML 58 Oilfield operating area belonging to Energies pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
Addressing newsmen at the Trans-Amadi office of TotalEnergies, where Chief EBENEZER HART-ELEBA, handed the protest letter to the Management of the multinational oil and gas company, on behalf of the Host Communities, accused the oil firm of ignoring legitimate court order and dealing with four indigenes of Egi, who claim to be leaders and members of Petroleum Industry Act, PIA against the will of the people.
He warned that the host communities will not fail to carry out action against the multinational, should they continue to ignore the court orders
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Also speaking, Chief ANTHONY BROWN and AJIE CHOGOZIE while narrating how they have lost certain rights because of bad representation, also accused Total Energies of trying to influence the choice of members of the Petroleum Industrial Act on the Hots Communities in flagrant disobedience to court orders
Our correspondent, who monitored the protest reports that the Manager, Stakeholders/ Engagement at Total Energies, HENRY EHUIKE received the protest letter and promised to deliver it to the appropriate quarters.
Meanwhile, the Civil Society Organizations in Rivers State have advised multinationals operating in the state against any act that is capable of causing tension and bridge of peace in their host communities.
Rivers State Coordinator of the International Human Rights and Protection Initiative, JOHN IHUA while reacting to the protest staged by sixteen Egi Host Communities, cautioned against disobedience to court orders and advised the parties involved in the matter to maintain the status quo and not to stir up issues in Egi Land, considering the correct security situation in the neighbouring Ahoada East Local Government Area.
