Uyo Court Dismisses ₦54B Oil Spill Lawsuit – Case Crashes

The Federal High Court in Uyo has dismissed a ₦54 billion representative lawsuit filed over a 2014 oil spill, ruling that the case was brought beyond the permissible legal timeframe. According to reports, the suit, initiated by representatives of the Barracks, Nditia, and Okposo 2 communities, was directed against Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, now operating as SEPNU.

The claimants contended that the environmental damage from the spill constituted a continuing injury, which they argued should exempt the case from statutory limitations. However, the court disagreed, holding that the spill constituted a single, completed act in 2014, and the legal clock began at that time.

Central to the decision was the argument presented by Mobil’s counsel, Ms. Abasiemediong Etuk, who explained the distinction between a continuing injury and the continuing effects of an injury. She asserted that a continuing injury requires repeated wrongful acts, which were not present in this case. “While the effects of the spill might persist, the cause of action remains fixed to the date the spill occurred,” she argued.

The judge concurred, stating that although the spill’s consequences continue to be felt, the alleged act itself was completed in 2014. Consequently, the filing in 2026 was deemed statute-barred. Legal analysts note that the ruling establishes a stricter benchmark for future oil spill claims seeking to invoke the continuing injury doctrine by distinguishing the original act from its long-term impacts.