SERAP v. Nigeria, Ruling, Suit No: ECW/CCJ/APP/08/09 and RUL. No: ECW/CCJ/APP/07/10 (ECOWAS, Dec. 10, 2010)
1/25/21, 1:48 PM
and other pollutants resulting in breathing problems, skin lesions and other health problems, but
their common concerns are not taken seriously or addressed.
10. The Defendants individually and/or collectively are internationally obligated to respect, protect,
promote, ensure and fulfill the right to an adequate standard of living in the Niger Delta.
11. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a signatory to the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights; the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and the
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Right. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is also a signatory
to the Revised Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States dated 24th July 1993.
12. Although the government of Nigeria has some regulatory systems in place, the evidence from
the Niger Delta is that these do not work. By failing to deal adequately with corporate actions that
harm Human Rights and the environment, the government of Nigeria has compounded the
problem. A culture of impunity has been reinforced for oil companies in the Niger Delta because of
lack of effective sanctions for bad practices that undermine Human Rights.
13. The failure of the government to allocate sufficient funding, via NNPC, to ensure safety and
prevent pollution related to oil operations has contributed to violations of the Human Rights of the
people of the Niger Delta. However, government's failure to protect rights does not absolve the non
- state actors (Defendant herein) from responsibility for their actions and the human rights impact
thereof.
14. When companies undermine or abuse Human Rights, it is sometimes the of genuine lack of
knowledge, but more often it is a consequence of lack of due diligence and proper planning, or of
deliberate actions. The defendants individually and/or collectively either actually caused the
Human rights harms herein highlighted contributed to them significantly.
15. The 4th - 9th Defendant herein aided and abetted the 1st - 3rd Defendants in the violations of
Human Rights highlighted above. The 4th - 9th Defendants are active participants in the serious
violation of the Human Rights of the Niger Delta people.
ORDERS SOUGHT BY THE APPLICANT
16. A DECLARATION that anyone in the Niger Delta is entitled to the internationally recognized
human right to an adequate standard of living, including adequate access to food, to healthcare, to
clean water, to clean and healthy environment, to socio - economic development and right to life
and human security and dignity.
17. A DECLARATION that the failure and/or complicity and negligence of the Defendants
individually and/or collectively to effectively and adequately clean up and remediate contaminated
land and water; to address the impact of oil- related pollution and environmental damage on
agriculture and fisheries; and to establish an effective system of monitoring the impact of oil on
humans, is unlawful and a breach of international Human Rights obligations and commitments as it
violates the International Covenant on Economic, social and cultural Rights, the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
http://www.worldcourts.com/ecowasccj/eng/decisions/2010.12.10_SERAP_v_Nigeria.htm
Page 3 of 13