BIA Hails Jasper Jumbo, Others’ Appeal Court Victory Against Shell, NLNG

The Bonny Improvement Association (BIA) has hailed the National Chairman of the National Association for Mineral Producing Areas Development (NAMPAD), Jasper Jumbo for pursuing the legal tussle with Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) over the irregularities in the land lease involving both companies and Jumbo House.

President of the BIA Port Harcourt, Professor Sodienye Abere, who gave this commendation on Monday, 26 May 2025 in a telephone chat with Kristina Reports, applauded Jumbo for his tenacity in the struggle to hold the international oil and gas companies (IOCs) in Bonny Local Government Area accountable for their ill actions.

According to him, “Jasper Jumbo has shown character, patriotism and commitment to the fight to ensure that Bonny Kingdom, especially, Jumbo House is not cheated by these IOCs”.

“He has shown strong passion for the interest of his house and for Bonny in general; that a company can boldly sub lease land it leased from two chieftaincy houses without recourse to its landlord smacks of impunity, recklessness and disregard for its landlords.”

“So, as a body, we praise our dear brother, Jasper Jumbo for holding them accountable, as well as other members of the house who are co-claimants in the suit. For spending their resources, time and efforts to make this happen, may God bless and reward them.”

Prof. Abere was reacting to the news of the judgment of the Court of Appeal which dismissed an appeal by Shell over the dispute regarding its sub leasing of part the land hosting the Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal (BOGT) to NLNG as its equity contribution as a shareholder.

The said land was leased to Shell by Jumbo and Brown Chieftaincy Houses of Bonny Kingdom on Tuesday, 22nd July, 1958.

Strangely, Shell allegedly leased part of the land to NLNG as part of its equity participation as a shareholder. In fact, precisely 139.4 hectares was leased by Shell to NLNG for its Train 7 project.

The action was challenged by Jumbo House in suit number: PHC/2018/2017 and the trial court declared the lease illegal and awarded costs against Shell.

Shell appealed the judgment in appeal number: CA/PH/619/2019, but after considering the arguments of the counsel to the appellant, Franklin Peterside, the Appeal Court in a unanimous judgment by all three Justices on its Panel on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, dismissed the appeal as lacking merit.

While Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited is the claimant in the appeal, the respondents are Jasper Jumbo, Adolphus William Jumbo, Tamunoala Chapp-Jumbo, Fubara Jumbo, David Jumbo, Fidelis Jumbo, Innocent Dibiebuma, Daniel Jumbo, Soimi Kaladappa, Gift Jumbo, Nixon Jumbo and Archibald Jumbo.

Also joined as respondents are the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) and the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, JP, Perekule XI.

He reiterated that the BIA will continue to identify, acknowledge and commend individuals and corporates who do things to improve Bonny Kingdom, noting that Jasper’s legal challenge to Shell was one of such egalitarian efforts, urging him and his kinsmen to do more.

The BIA Port Harcourt President also called on the companies to ensure they do right at all times with regards to their business dealings, pointing out that regulatory compliance, adherence to best practices and strategic engagement with stakeholders remain the panacea for needless crisis.

The Bonny Improvement Association (BIA) is a not-for-profit organization populated by Bonny indigenes who are committed to driving advocacy for the development of Bonny LGA.