The family of late Shell engineer, Mr Eto Sonam Obhuo, has renewed its long-running call for justice, demanding 100 million dollars in compensation over what it describes as a tragic case of medical negligence that led to his death more than a decade ago.
In a formal pre-action notice issued through their solicitors, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN & Co, the family accused Shell Petroleum Development Company of gross failure in its duty of care, alleging that errors by medical personnel at a company-run hospital directly caused Mr Obhuo’s death.
According to the letter, Mr Obhuo, an engineer with SPDC, was rushed to the Shell Industrial Area Hospital in Rumuobiakani, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on 16 June 2011.
He was admitted and died later the same day, barely 15 hours after coming under the care of the company’s medical team.
The family insists his death was not natural. They claim that inquiries, medical reports and other records point to “gross horrific medical negligence”, adding that inconsistencies in case notes and post-mortem findings suggest an attempt to conceal possible criminal liability rather than ensure transparency.
In a letter dated 19 September 2025, the lawyers stated that the concerns raised had already drawn the attention of law enforcement agencies, as well as professional bodies, including an investigation by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
The findings, they argued, strengthened the family’s belief that Mr Obhuo’s death was avoidable.
Among the alleged acts of negligence listed were failure to obtain informed consent before administering medication, non-disclosure of critical information on drugs and dosages, and the unauthorised insertion of airway adjuncts without documented approval.
The letter also claimed that the deceased was not properly monitored, leading to aspiration of stomach contents, a complication described as preventable.
The pathology report, according to the family, showed signs of cyanosis in the oral mucous membranes and fingernail beds, indicating hypoxemia and respiratory distress before death. They argue that timely and adequate medical intervention could have saved his life.
Mr Obhuo’s family painted a picture of a promising life cut short. Before joining Shell, he graduated as the best student from Rivers State University of Science and Technology. He was 32 at the time of his death, newly married and planning to start a family.
“He was a rising star with a great career ahead of him,” the letter noted, adding that his death deprived his wife of a life partner and left his wider family in deep emotional and psychological distress.
As an indigene of the Niger Delta, the family said he also had prospects for higher professional and public responsibilities.
Despite what they described as repeated attempts to resolve the matter amicably, the family said SPDC had failed to act. They recalled that the company, through its solicitors, acknowledged their demands in a letter dated 6 September 2021 and expressed openness to settlement talks.
However, they claim no meaningful steps have been taken since then.
“There is no mathematical exactitude for the physical, emotional and psychological trauma that our Client has continued to suffer,” the lawyers wrote.
In their latest demands, the family called for full and unconditional disclosure of all medical records related to Mr Obhuo’s treatment, including nursing charts and oxygen saturation records.
They also requested a detailed explanation of the medical policies in place at the time, disclosure of any internal investigations, and immediate payment of all accrued death benefits.
Central to the demands is the payment of 100 million dollars as compensation for wrongful death, loss of dependency, pain, suffering and emotional distress.
The letter warned that if there is no positive response within 14 days of receipt, the family would institute both civil and criminal proceedings without further notice.
The pre-action notice was served on 30 September 2025 at the office of the managing director of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, which is said to have taken over Shell’s interests after the incident. It was also delivered to the chief executive officer of Shell PLC in London on 1 October 2025 via DHL.