Federal Government has initiated a legal action against Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company over the oil spillage that affected 350 communities in Delta and Bayelsa State on December 20, 2011.

The suit was initiated by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, in the interest of fishermen and the over 285,000 people from 350 communities and satellite villages affected by the Bonga crude oil spillage.

In an affidavit sworn to by a Deputy Director, Oil Field Assessment Department of NOSDRA, Mr Akindele Olubunmi and filed before a Federal High Court Abuja by one Barrister Awosika Dada Adekunle, the Nigerian government is demanding a N1.3 trillion compensation for communities affected by the 2011 Bonga oil spills.

Olubunmi in the affidavit claimed the legal action has the consent of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation, A. A. Malami SAN, and the Director General of NOSDRA.

According to the affidavit, the Federal Government is also demanding additional N884 billion as compensation for the oil spill, another N495 billion as restitution and restoration of the devastation of the economic zone of the Nigeria territorial waters and N50 million as cost of the legal action.

Joined as co-defendants in the legal action are, Shell Petroleum N.V, B.V Netherlandse International Indusrie-E Handel Maatschappij, The Shell Transport and Trading Company Plc and Royal Dutch Shell Plc who are all allied companies of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company.