By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa

The Federal High Court in Uyo has dismissed a N54 billion lawsuit against Mobil Producing Nigeria (now SEPNU) regarding a 2014 oil spill. 

The case was brought by the Barracks, Nditia, and Okposo 2 communities seeking compensation for environmental and economic damages.

The trial judge ruled the case “statute-barred,” noting it was filed far beyond the legal time limit. While the alleged spill occurred in 2014, the suit was not brought until 2026, exceeding the standard three-year window for such civil claims.

Plaintiffs argued the spill was a “continuing injury” because environmental degradation persisted over time. They used this classification to attempt to bypass the statute of limitations, focusing on lasting impact rather than the initial event date.

Defense counsel Abasiemediong Etuk countered that a “continuing injury” requires a repeated wrongful act, not just lingering effects from the past. The court agreed, ruling the spill was a completed event from over a decade ago.

The judge clarified that the legal right to sue began the moment the incident occurred in 2014. By waiting 12 years to seek redress, the communities lost their legal standing, resulting in the entire suit being struck out.

This ruling emphasizes the strict application of the statute of limitations in Nigerian environmental law. For the affected communities, the dismissal ends their multi-billion naira pursuit of compensation for the alleged destruction of their ecosystem.