US EditionNigeria: UK Court Rules Against Shell Over Nigerian Oil Spill
- On June 20, 2025, the UK High Court determined that Shell and its previous Nigerian affiliate may be held accountable for longstanding oil contamination affecting the Bille and Ogale communities, with a comprehensive trial scheduled for 2027.
- This ruling follows legal action started in 2015 by the two Nigerian communities accusing Shell of systemic pollution and breaches of constitutional rights linked to its operations and alleged staff complicity in illegal bunkering.
- During a four-week preliminary hearing from February to March 2025, Mrs Justice May rejected Shell's effort to limit the trial scope and found Shell potentially liable for pipeline spills caused by third-party criminal acts like oil theft.
- Matthew Renshaw from Leigh Day described the ruling as a significant step toward holding Shell accountable for environmental damage in Nigeria, while Shell responded by attributing most oil spills to illegal activities by third parties.
- The ruling allows claims for spills older than five years to proceed, establishing an important precedent enabling Nigerian communities to seek compensation and clean-up from multinational corporations like Shell.
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50,000 members of two Nigerian communities taking Shell to High Court over systemic oil pollution
Residents of two Nigerian communities who are taking legal action against Shell over systemic oil pollution are set to take their cases to trial at the High Court in 2027.
·London, United Kingdom
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