By SIMON EBEGBULEM
FIVE indigenes of Gbaramatu Kingdom, in Warri North Local Government Council of Delta State, have dragged Chevron Nigeria Plc, the Egbema and Gbaramatu Development Communities before the High Court in Warri, over alleged attempt by the latter to negotiate with Chevron as regards the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) when the term of office of the executive members of the Gbaramatu Development Communities expired since December 2010.

In the suit filed by their solicitor, R.N.Oghene, the plaintiffs want the court to declare that any negotiation or arrangement between representatives of the Gbaramatu Kingdom with Chevron in relation to the MOU, must, in accordance with the practices and customs of the Gbaramatu people, be negotiated by the body of representatives be nominated and appointed as such representatives to succeed the out going representatives in December 2011.

The leaders of the community who filed the suit are Chief Dennis Otuara, Peter Bubor,Godwin Olufemi, Shadrach Tangbe and Solomon Eris.

The Gbaramatu indigenes want the court to make a declaration “ that the term of office of the representatives of the communities in the 2nd defendant who started their two years tenure as such representatives in 2008 have since expired and they obliged to vacate the office immediately”.

They also want an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their servants, agents from carrying out any negotiation on behalf of the Egbema/Gbaramatu communities, concluding or seeking to implement any results of such or Memorandum of Understanding, conditions, regulations as negotiated by the present member of the 2nd defendant whose term of office actually expired in 2010”