Nigerian farmers sue Shell in Dutch court
Nigerian farmers began a landmark compensation case against Shell in a Dutch court on Thursday, asking judges to order a clean-up of environmental damage.
Nigerian farmers began a landmark compensation case against Shell in a Dutch court on Thursday, asking judges to order the oil multinational to clean up environmental damage they claim is caused by leaking pipes.
The case at The Hague Civil Court marks the first time a Dutch company has been sued for alleged environmental mismanagement caused by an overseas subsidiary and could pave the way for similar claims if it succeeds.
Royal Dutch Shell PLC long argued that the case, which was launched in 2008, should be heard in Nigeria and still maintains the Dutch court should not have jurisdiction.
Four villagers and environmental group Friends of the Earth say Shell pipeline leaks fouled fish ponds, farmland and forests in three villages in the Niger Delta, Goi, Oruma and Ikot Ada Udo.
Villagers blame the leaks on corrosion of the pressurised underground pipe. Shell claims they were caused by sabotage and says its local subsidiary cleaned up the environmental damage.
An earlier Dutch court ruling accepted Shell’s assertion that the leaks were caused by sabotage, but lawyers for the plaintiffs argue that the judges should revisit that decision, saying the pipe was seriously corroded.