The UK High Court will begin hearings on February 13 in a landmark legal battle between Shell and the Ogale and Bille communities of Rivers State, Nigeria.
The case, centered on oil pollution in the Niger Delta, marks a significant step in the decade-long fight for corporate accountability.
The affected communities claim that Shell’s operations have caused severe environmental damage, destroying livelihoods and contaminating drinking water. Shell Plc, a British multinational oil and gas company headquartered in London, is Nigeria’s oldest energy firm.
The Preliminary Issues Trial of Nigerian Law, scheduled to run until March 10, will address key legal questions before a full trial on claims that Shell’s activities led to widespread pollution. Thousands of residents say they have suffered as a result of oil spills, which have rendered farmlands barren and waterways toxic.
Amnesty International highlighted the case in a statement released on Monday, titled “Nigerian Residents Take Shell to UK High Court Following 10-Year Fight for Justice.”
“The Bille and Ogale communities have endured the devastating effects of oil pollution for years,” said Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International’s Country Director for Nigeria. “Shell’s operations have exposed them to multiple spills, causing permanent damage to their environment and way of life.”
The lawsuit, led by UK law firm Leigh Day, follows years of legal delays. Shell had previously argued that it was not legally responsible for the pollution. However, on December 6, 2024, the UK Court of Appeal ruled that the case could proceed.
“Water contamination and other environmental hazards have impacted even newborns, with some cases of birth defects reported,” Sanusi added. “These communities deserve justice and proper remediation. We hope this long-overdue trial brings them closer to that.”
Amnesty International, which has spent over 20 years documenting the environmental and human rights impact of Shell’s operations in the Niger Delta, is urging the oil giant to take full responsibility.
The organization called on Shell to engage with affected communities and provide a comprehensive clean-up plan, along with compensation for those impacted.
