v) AN ORDER: directing the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately pay
remedial environmental damages for an immediate clean up exercise in the oil polluted
Niger Delta region to the tune of $30 billion for the excess of 9 million barrels of spilt
crude oil in the Niger Delta region and for hazardous gas flaring over the last fifty years
of oil exploration and exploitation in the Niger Delta region (ACHPR: Article 1, 21 &
24;) & (ICESCR Article 12).
vi) AN ORDER: mandating the Federal Government of Nigeria to facilitate an enabling
environment for the people of Niger Delta in actualizing their innate desire, yearning,
cry, call and demand for the conduct of a SELF-DETERMINATION REFERENDUM
for the over 30 million people of the Niger Delta region who are impoverished, deprived,
aggrieved, and who are unlawfully and unjustly being marginalized by successive Federal
Governments of Nigeria since independence till date (ICCPR & ICESCR: Article 1.1,
1.2 & 1.3).
8. The Defendant being out of time to file its defense, filed an application for
extension of time dated 10/12/15 to which it attached its defense. Defendant
averred that the nature of the case necessitated the need to liaise with other
Government agencies for the defense hence their being out of time. On 15/12/15,
the Defendant filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court
on the following grounds:
The Plaintiffs have no locus standi to institute this suit;
The Plaintiffs’ are faceless people without identity;
8