PH Mundial – Port Harcourt Online Newspaper News Across The Region
Related Articles
By Joel Anekwe
The board of trustees of the Environmental Rights Development Foundation (ERDF) has announced the appointment of Chima Williams as acting executive director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) following the disengagement of Godwin Ojo, who was in that position until 3rd October 2020.
The decision to appoint Williams was reached at an emergency meeting of the board, following the disengagement of Dr. Ojo, with the appointment of Williams taking effect from October 5, 2020.
A release by Aknibode Oluwfemi, secretary, ERDF Board said the board appreciated the work the former executive director did while in the organization and wished him well in his future endeavours.
“We remain hopeful and excited for the next chapter of ERA/FoEN”, the statement added
Until his appointment, Chima Williams was head of Legal Resources/Democracy Outreach of ERA/FoEN. A consummate legislative and policy change advocate, Williams believes in globally enforceable environmental and human rights standards by all business operators to ensure respect for the environmental and human rights of local communities.
He is a lawyer and president, Green Alliance Nigeria and is in his second term as an editorial board member of Business and Human Rights Journal published by Cambridge University Press, London.
He is also country focal person and regional chairman, publicity committee of Public Interest Lawyering Initiative for West Africa, among other positions he holds.
Williams has utilized campaigns, advocacy, mobilization, policy and legislative interventions and litigation at both national and trans-national spheres to contribute towards the protection of citizens’ rights, especially against the destructive practices of the extractive industry.
He was the Nigerian lawyer to the Ikebiri Kingdom in their case against the Multi-National Oil Company ENI/NAOC in Milan, Italy where the King of Ikebiri Community is suing NAOC-ENI for environmental disaster in his community. The case was settled out of court with the Ikebiri people gaining enormous benefits from the company.
The new acting executive director is currently involved in monitoring the implementation of an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) complaint process following the successful outcome in the complaint of Egbema Voice of Freedom & 2 others vs. ENI/NAOC in Aggah Community of Rivers State. This process involves the removal of perennial flooding occurrences that have ravaged the community for over 40 years.
