Britain’s Supreme Court will on Tuesday hear Nigerian farmers and fishermen appeal to pursue claims against Shell oil spills in the Niger Delta.
The hearing is seen as major breakthrough for the complainants after a London court ruled in 2018 that the claim could not be pursued in England.
The Ogale and Bille communities allege that Shell’s oil operations have polluted their land and waters.
A law firm representing the farmers and fishermen, Leigh Day, said the petitioners are seeking justice through British courts because cases heard in Nigeria can take decades to resolve.
It has not been established if the courts have jurisdiction over claims against Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company.
The company says “claims by Nigerian communities against a Nigerian company about events in Nigeria should be heard in Nigeria and not the UK.”
According to the multinational firm, the spills are caused by oil theft, sabotage and illegal refining.
