By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA—FOLLOWING a gas leak in some communities in Rivers State, the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, yesterday, threatened to compel the Managing Director of Total Nigeria, Alexis Vovk, to appear before it, if he fails to do so on Monday next week.

The petitioners, through their lawyer, are   demanding N7 billion as damages following the gas leak which they said affected their communities of Obita / Egita in the state.

The company’s representatives, who initially did not want to comment on the matter on the ground that it was in court, however, alleged that the petitioners had threatened to sue Total abroad.

Chairman of the Committee, Uzoma Nkem Abonta, wondered why the petitioners would want to sue Total abroad when the jurisdiction of the leak was in Nigeria.

He directed that the Managing Director of the company should appear in person in the bid to resolve the matter, adding that he would be compelled to do so if he refuses to appear before his committee on Monday next week.