Italy
A Nigerian village has filed a lawsuit in Milan against Italian oil company Eni demanding compensation for damage caused by an oil pipeline explosion in 2010, an Italian lawyer representing the village said on Thursday.
The village of Ikebiri in the Niger Delta is asking Eni for 2 million euros ($2.2 million) in damages along with a commitment to clean up the area covering more than 43 acres (17 hectares), Luca Saltalamacchia told a news conference.
“The explosion that happened near a river caused an environmental disaster that polluted water and land,” Saltalamacchia said.
Mining and energy firms around the world have battled a spate of cases brought in international courts against their subsidiaries in other countries.
Anglo-Dutch oil company Royal Dutch Shell successfully fought efforts by one Nigerian community to sue the company in British courts, but it settled another case brought in London by a Nigerian community in 2015.
According to Saltalamacchia, Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited, which is owned by Eni, has claimed it has already carried out cleaning up operations in the area.
Eni was not immediately available for a comment.
Saltalamacchia, who will be flanked by environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth in the case against Eni, said a first hearing had been set for Dec. 11 at the Milan civil court.
Eni has been operating in Nigeria since 1962 and last year produced 117,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Reuters
02:23
‘Water and Garri’: Tiwa Savage discusses her acting debut
02:20
Nollywood Week Film Festival gets underway in Paris
Go to video
Guinness World Records: Nigerian woman attempts record by painting nails for three days
01:00
Nigerian army tries two of its personnel over deadly drone strike accident
Go to video
Nigerians pick sides as Wizkid and Davido clash online
02:14
Malaria: The plight of residents of low-income neighbourhoods