Centre conducts mock session to train women of oil polluted communities

Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre has held a mock tribunal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State to build capacity for the women of Niger Delta Community on how to seek legal redress as victims of pollution from oil and gas operators in the region.

The mock tribunal, which was held recently in Port Harcourt, witnessed presentations of petitions by aggrieved community women from four host communities seeking redress from oil majors- Agip, Shell, Total E &P, for years of unaddressed pollution in their areas and the attendant negative impacts.

The women presented their cases before a panel of jury headed by a respected senior female lawyer, Mrs Rosemary Inko-Tariah.

The jury listened to four cases-from Okwuzi against Agip, Eleme against Shell, Rumuekpe against Shell and Agip in Rivers State and Otuobagi in Bayelsa State, against Shell, demanding the clean-up and restoration of their destroyed environment, provision of social amenities and payment of compensation for the loss of livelihood and health challenges encountered by the people.

The presiding judge, Mrs. Inko-Dokubo in her ruling struck out the petition of Mrs Peace Mgbenwa representing Okwuzi against Agip operation in the Okwuzi/Egbema axis for lack of medical report from a public or reputed consultant to establish a link between the skin disease and the gas flare.

She, however, ruled that the Otuabagi women have a case to pursue.

“The Otuabagi case is a good case,” she says, adding that the report presented was evident and needed to be followed up. “The people are entitled to seek compensation for damage, proper health healthcare, among others.  Otuabagi should be properly put in the oil map,” she said.

In her remarks, convener of the mock tribunal and Executive Director of Kebetkache, Dr. Emem Okon said the tribunal was aimed at drawing wider attention to how environmental abuse adversely affects women in the oil host communities and also to build the capacity of women to access justice.

She said the August 7 tribunal was the fifth organised by her organisation, noting there was evidence of improvement in presentations.

“This is the fifth tribunal and as you can see, it has taken a new dimension. The Uyo tribunal had legal representatives acting for both sides,” she stated.

She called on community women to see the day’s proceedings as “capacity building” and embrace knowledge gained, urging them to become more intentional with documentation as a path to achieving the sought environmental justice.

Dr Okon appreciated the tribunal panel, especially the presiding judge for their interest in and contributions to Kebetkache projects, stressing that the organisation will not relent in seeking justice for Niger Delta women.

Other members of the panel include experienced female lawyer, Mrs Deborah Effiong and two veteran journalists who had been on the trail of environmental abuse in the oil and gas sector, Chief Constance Meju and Honourable Pius Dukor.

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