Deghele Community writes Chevron, stating that the plaintiffs’ claim before the Warri FHC has nothing to do with land ownership or compensation.

Leaders of Deghele Community, under the auspices of Iye Descendants’ Union Council of Elders in Warri Kingdom, have written the Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Limited, saying the Plaintiffs’ (Benikrukru) claim before the Federal High Court, Warri, “has nothing to do with ownership or title to land, nor compensation.”

In the letter titled ‘RE: SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT TO CORRECT THE FALSEHOOD IN THE PUBLICATION OF WEDNESDAY MARCH 12, 2025 AT PAGE 30 OF THE VANGUARD NEWSPAPER’ and signed by Sunny Atumu, Micheal Temisaren, Steve Edema, Henry Temisan, Austin Ghereje and Sunny Tuoyo, the Deghele leaders, noted inter-alia: “In Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/49/2024: between PA KWEKWEWEI ONIMIYENMENE & 5 ORS. V. CHEVRON NIGERIA LIMITED & 11 ORS, DAVID MODE AKOMA, DORIS ODEMI, PA SAMSON AMAOLA, MR. STEVE EDEMA and HENRY TEMISAN, were sued as 2nd to 6th Defendants for themselves and as Representatives of the Ode-Itsekiri/Deghele Communities of Delta State.

“The said suit was commenced by Originating Summons to which the 1st Defendant, the 2″ – 6th Defendants and the 7 _ 12 Defendants filed Counter Affidavits to the said Originating Summons and also filed Preliminary Objections on the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to entertain the said suit.

“Kindly note that your company was duly represented by the Law Firm of Albert Akpomudje, SAN & Partners and you may wish to verify our position herein with your counsel.

“The Court in delivering its Judgment on 31/1/2025, held at page 53 of the Judgment (see page 44 of Vanguard of 12/3/2025) thus: “I have looked at the Plaintiffs’ claim before the Court and without any fear of contradiction, the Plaintiffs’ Claim before the Court has nothing to do with ownership or title to land nor compensation relating to the Ist Defendant/Respondent’s acquisition of land and I so hold.

“From the excerpt of the Judgment reproduced above, one wonders where the Authors and/or the Plaintiffs came to the conclusion that Chevron should allocate all job positions, contracts and other benefits solely to Benikrukru Community as the rightful owners and people in possession of the area.

“Again, at page 58 of the said Judgment (see page 45 of Vanguard of 12/3/2025) the Court held:

“I wish to state that having referred to the Plaintiffs’ claim, the Federal High Court has the competence and Jurisdiction to hear this suit, because the claim has nothing to do with ownership and title to land and the interpretation of the Consent Judgment and I so hold.

” This again negates the position of the Authors that by the Judgment of 31/1/2025, they are the rightful owners and people in possession of the land. The Court in its Judgment persistently made it clear that it is not determining title/ownership of land.

“Thus, at Page 62 of the Judgment (see page 46 of Vanguard of 12/3/2025) of the Court held again:

“That the Ist Defendant cannot use the said Consent Judgment as a shield against the Plaintiffs, 2nd – 12th Defendants or any person for that matters not to pay compensation for any other damage or destruction caused outside the area specified in the Consent Judgment.”

“And at page 63 (See page 46 of Vanguard of 12/3/2025) the Court held:

“The Plaintiffs claims before the Court earlier held has to do with the construction of the Consent Judgment, no more no less.

“From the excerpt of the Judgment of the Federal High Court of 31/1/2025 reproduced above, it is abundantly clear that the Court did not make pronouncement on Title to land and/or ownership or possession of land.

“It is therefore obvious that the information contained at page 30 of the Vanguard Newspaper of 12/3/2025 by Benikrukru Community, does not represent the Judgment of Court in the mentioned suit. The facts stated in the said publication only exist as the figment of the imagination of the Authors.

“It is pertinent to emphasize as it may interest you to note that the Court at page 71 of the Judgment restrained Chevron Nigeria Limited, from paying compensation to the Plaintiffs (Benikrukru Community).

“We therefore urged you to disregard the falsehood contained in the said publication as same is misleading and does not represent the Judgment of Court.

“We need to emphasis that either the Plaintiffs and/or the Authors do not understand and/or appreciate the Judgment of Court or they are trying to be knave.”