Ondo Assembly summons Chevron – TheNigerialawyer

The Ondo State House of Assembly has summoned the management of
Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) to appear before it by Tuesday next
week or face litigation.

Speaker of the House, Bamidele Oleyelogun, gave the ultimatum
while addressing stakeholders at an ad hoc committee level over the
fire incident at Ugbo-Ilaje, Ojumole Oil well.

The decision followed the attitude of two representatives from
the oil company, who refused to address the committee because of
the presence of journalists.

Chevron representatives, who claimed they have no right to
address the committee in the presence of the media, appealed that
journalists be excused, a request that was turned down by the
lawmakers.

The State Commissioner for Environment, Funso ¸san had earlier
told the committee that the oil company erred by neglecting the
host communities, and the company’s lack of regard for the state
government.

The commissioner noted, that, the state governor, Oluwarotimi
Akeredolu, had also fixed a meeting with the management of CNL
which was called off till next week due to non availability of
principal officers of the company as claimed by their
representatives.

Addressing the committee, the spokesperson of the
representatives of the Olugbo in Council, Dr Akin Akinruntan,
accused Chevron of short changing the host communities in Ondo
State compared to what transpires in other oil producing
states.

Akinruntan appealed to the committee to intervene on the matter
and ensure that affected communities were adequately compensated
for the damages done on the water, air and environment.

The Chairman of the House ad hoc committee, Abayomi Akinruntan,
promised that the lawmakers would ensure that justice is done in
the interest of the affected communities and Ondo State in
general.

A source from Ojumole oil producing community revealed that the
fire was still burning from the oil field for the past 21 days
running.

In another development, the state governor has constituted an
11-member committee to work out the modality for the implementation
of the autonomy for the legislative and judicial arms of the state
government.

The committee is chaired by the Commissioner for Economic
Planning and Budget, Emmanuel Igbasan and comprise representatives
of the Speaker, House of Assembly; the Chief Judge of the State;
the President of the Customary Court of Appeal and Chairman, House
of Assembly Committee on Finances and Appropriation. Others include
the Commissioner for Finance, the Attorney-General and Commissioner
for Justice, Clerk of the State House of Assembly, Chief Registrar
of the High Court, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic
Planning and Budget, among others.

The committee’s terms of reference include the following: to
assess implementation status of the financial autonomy for the
state’s legislative and judicial arms of government; to determine
the framework for the implementation of the autonomy at the state
level; to determine the commencement time for the implementation;
and to advise on any other matter(s) incidental to or connected
with the implementation process of the Law in Ondo State.

The committee is given four weeks to submit its report.

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