London court investigates Shell over oil spills

A hearing has commenced at the high court in London into allegations that oil spills from Shell have polluted areas of the Niger Delta in Nigeria according to RFI on the 13th of February.

Shell, along with its Nigerian subsidiary SPDD, claim that the spills were caused by illegal sabotage.

Amnesty International supports local villagers protests over the fact that spills and leaks have polluted waterways for decades. 

“The pollution created by the oil giant has caused immense damage to the local environment, depriving thousands of people of access to clean drinking water,” said Amnesty International.

Officials from Amnesty International Nigeria have said that Shell’s claim that sabotage is at play is ‘just a way to avoid taking responsibility.’

On the other hand, Shell claim that bringing forward litigation does nothing to prevent sabotage and deliberate spills from malicious actors.

Shell and SPDC recognise that they are obliged to compensate anyone harmed by sills however their lawyers say that they will not offer compensation for spills caused by third party actors.

This recent event is not the first time that communities in Nigeria have had their lives affected by oil spills that they claim are caused by Shell. 

The UN reports that at least 7000 oil spills have occurred in the Niger Delta region since 1958. 

Just ten years ago, the Bille and Ogale communities claimed that their livelihood had been destroyed by hundreds of oil spills.

These spills led to widespread environmental damage in the Niger Delta region.

Plant and fish life were killed and thousands of people were left without clean drinking water.

The Ogale community hope that the trial commencing in London will confirm Shell’s liability for the spills.

The trial is set to last a month and will determine whether Shell or SPDC can be held liable for oil spills caused by third-parties, which they claim they can not be.

A further trial will follow in 2026.

RFI