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Ondo communities sue company for environmental pollution

8th December 2022

Air pollution. Credit: EuronewsePeter Dada

By Peter Dada

Some communities in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State have approached the state High Court sitting in Okitipupa to sue a company, The Wee-Wood Industries Nigeria Limited, located in the area for environmental pollution.

The communities alleged that the waste products of the company had polluted their water and land, making life difficult for the residents.

The claimants, Oloja Emmanuel and Mr Fagbohun Olakunle, who filed the suit on behalf of the communities through their lawyer, Mr Busayo Oroyo, claimed a sum of N200million damages from the defendant.

According to a statement of claim, the claimants sought the order of the court to direct “the defendant to abate the nuisance caused by her wrongful disposal of her industrial waste and discharge  of harmful effluent into the claimants land, water and environment.”

They also sought “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant by itself, its servants or agents or otherwise from repeating continuing the said nuisance and any nuisance of a like kind or the said adverse physical and psychological effect on the claimants.”

The further prayed the court order for “general damage in the sum of N200million only, against the defendant for the effect of the harmful chemical” on their land, water and environment.

Speaking on the suit, the claimants’ counsel, Mr Busayo Oroye, said the defendant were not represented in the court when the matter came up for hearing last Monday.