The family of the late Shell engineer, Mr. Eto Sonam Obhuo, has renewed its longstanding demand for justice, insisting on $100 million in compensation over what they describe as a preventable death caused by medical negligence more than ten years ago.
In a pre-action notice issued through their legal representatives, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN & Co., the family accused the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of failing in its duty of care, alleging that mistakes made by staff at the company’s hospital contributed directly to Mr. Obhuo’s death.
According to the notice, Mr. Obhuo, an engineer with SPDC, was taken to the Shell Industrial Area Hospital in Rumuobiakani, Port Harcourt on June 16, 2011. He was admitted for treatment but passed away later that same day, within approximately 15 hours of being placed under medical supervision.
The family maintains that his passing was avoidable. They said that findings from investigations, medical documents, and post-mortem reports point to “severe medical negligence,” and alleged that inconsistencies in hospital records suggest attempts to hide errors rather than provide clarity.
In a letter dated September 19, 2025, the legal team noted that the matter had drawn attention from law-enforcement agencies and professional regulators, including a probe by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Committee. The family believes these reviews confirm that his death could have been prevented.
Specific allegations of negligence listed by the family include failure to obtain proper consent before administering treatment, withholding key information about medications, and the unauthorized use of airway devices without documented approval.
They also alleged that Mr. Obhuo was inadequately monitored, which they believe led to complications that could have been avoided with better care.
Medical findings cited by the family indicated signs of respiratory distress before death, leading them to argue that timely intervention might have saved his life.
The family described Mr. Obhuo as a young man with a bright future, noting that he graduated as the top student from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. At age 32, he had recently married and was preparing to start a family.
“He was a gifted professional with enormous promise,” the letter stated, noting that his death left his wife devastated and caused lasting emotional strain to the entire family.
As a Niger Delta indigene, the family added that he also had prospects for significant professional and civic contributions.
Despite repeated attempts to resolve the matter peacefully, the family says SPDC has not taken meaningful steps. They recalled that in a letter dated September 6, 2021, the company acknowledged their complaints and indicated willingness to discuss an out-of-court settlement.
However, they claim no substantive action followed that communication.
“There is no precise measure for the physical, emotional, and psychological anguish our client continues to endure,” the family’s lawyers wrote.
In their latest demands, the family requested full disclosure of all medical records connected to Mr. Obhuo’s treatment, including nursing notes and oxygen-level documentation.
They are also seeking clarification of the hospital’s medical procedures at the time, details of any internal investigation carried out, and full payment of all outstanding death-related benefits.
At the center of their demands is a request for $100 million in compensation for wrongful death, loss of dependency, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma.
The notice warned that failure to respond positively within 14 days would lead to both civil and criminal court actions.
The pre-action notice was delivered on September 30, 2025, to the managing director of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, the entity said to have assumed Shell’s interests following the incident. It was also sent to the chief executive officer of Shell PLC in London on October 1, 2025 via DHL.
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