A group of tens of thousands of Nigerian farmers and fishermen will be allowed to sue oil giant Shell in English courts after years of oil spills in the Niger Delta.
Around 50,000 people live in the Ogale and Bille communities of Nigeria and allege they have suffered systematic oil pollution for years which has impacted their drinking water supply and destroyed livelihoods.
The communities wanted to bring forward the case against the British-Dutch company in English courts because they believe they will not be able to get justice in Nigeria.
Oil from a leaking pipeline burns in Goi-Bodo, a swamp area of the Niger Delta in October 2004
The UK Supreme Court has now ruled there is an arguable case that Royal Dutch Shell and its Nigerian subsidiary are legally responsible for the pollution and that it can be brought in front of an English court.
A Shell spokesperson has called the decision “disappointing” and said sabotages are the “main sources” of pollution in the Niger Delta.
Shell did not dispute that both communities have been severely polluted, or that there has not been an adequate clean-up yet.
It had instead argued it could not be held legally responsible for the harm suffered and therefore the cases should not be heard in England.
The case is the latest to test whether multinational companies can be held accountable for the actions of their overseas subsidiaries, and could pave the way for more cases against Shell.
Two weeks ago, the Dutch Court of Appeal made a landmark ruling against Royal Dutch Shell that held it liable for pollution caused by its Nigerian subsidiary, ordering it to improve its pipeline network.
Read the full article at news.sky.com
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