The ECOWAS Court of Justice sitting in Abuja let seven oil companies off the hook on Monday in an environmental degradation suit filed against them by a non-governmental organisation. The court said it did not have jurisdiction to try the companies operating in the Niger Delta region. Joined in the suit filed by the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), are the Nigerian government and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), counsel to the plaintiff, Barr. Adetokunbo Mumuni said the case was presented to the ECOWAS Court in 2009. He said the ECOWAS Court did not have the jurisdiction to rule over the seven oil companies involved in the case relying on certain principles of international law and decided to let them off the hook.Mumuni said if the case was in the plaintiff”s favour, the Nigerian government would have to ensure that the activities of the oil companies were checked. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presiding judge, Justice Hansine Donli adjourned the case to July 14. The adjournment was scheduled to give the defendants more time to present their arguments on the amended application filed by the plaintiff.