Some natives of oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta and a civil society organisation have dragged the National Assembly to court over section 257 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Also joined in the suit is the attorney general of the federation and justice minister.

The executive director of WeThePeople, Ken Henshaw, disclosed this at a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

Mr Henshaw said that the group had approached the court for it to determine the provision of a section of the act. According to him, the entire section contravened the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended.

The group, in a suit marked FHC/PH/CS/181, filed at the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, had Henry Eferebo, Princewill Chukwure, Avadi Chimankpam and Health of Mother Earth Foundation as co-plaintiffs.

The suit sought relief to determine whether the shifting of personal liability for damage, property injury, vandalism or sabotage to the host community by the provision of section 257(2,3) of the PIA 2021 not consistent with section 43 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution, which protects citizens’ rights to own immovable and movable properties, including funds.

Mr Henshaw said the court should determine and subsequently repeal the section of PIA that contains key provisions aimed at addressing long-standing development challenges in oil-producing communities in Nigeria.

He explained that several provisions in the section of the act, on the other hand, could cause disaffection and conflict between oil firms and host communities.

Mr Henshaw said that some provisions of section 257 of the PIA, rather than promote development, may result in increased deprivation for communities and create new conflict scenarios.

“The fact that the Act blames host communities for oil theft and oil infrastructure sabotage and mandates them to become unpaid, unskilled, and unarmed guardians of oil equipment and pipelines was perhaps the most contentious and unjust aspect of the Act,” said Mr Henshaw.

He condemned the destruction of oil infrastructure, describing such rascality as a crime with well-established punishment after due determination of guilt by a court.

“No existing law provides for the punishment of an entire community, in this case, the denial of due benefits for a crime committed by a person or persons at large,” Mr Henshaw noted.

He further said no Nigerian law permits the award of punishment for any supposed crime without the determination of a court of law.

Mr Henshaw stated, “It is implausible that an entire community, including all men, women and children, collectively sabotage oil infrastructure. Why, then, should the entire community bear the consequences?”

(NAN)