Nigerian communities set to have oil pollution High Court claims tried in 2027
Residents of two Nigerian communities who are taking legal action against Shell over oil pollution are set to take their cases to trial at the High Court in 2027.
Members of the Bille and Ogale communities in the Niger Delta, which have a combined population of around 50,000, are suing Shell plc and a Nigerian-based subsidiary of the company, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, which is now the Renaissance Africa Energy Company.
The two communities began legal action in 2015, claiming they have suffered systemic and ongoing oil pollution for years due to the companies' operations in the African country, including pollution of drinking water.
They are seeking compensation and asking for the companies to clean up the damage caused by the spills.
The companies are defending the claims, saying that the majority of spills are caused by criminal acts of third parties or illegal oil refining, for which they are not liable.
On Friday, Mrs Justice May ruled on more than 20 preliminary issues in the claims, following a hearing held in London over four weeks in February and March.
She said that 'some 85 spills have, so far, been identified', but added that the case was 'still at a very early stage'.
Her findings included that Shell could be sued for damage from pipeline spills caused by third parties, such as vandals, in efforts to steal oil, a process known as bunkering.
She also said that while there was a five-year limitation period on bringing legal claims, a 'new cause of action will arise each day that oil remains' on land affected by the spills.
The cases are due to be tried over four months, starting in March 2027.
Reacting to the ruling, the leader of the Ogale community, King Bebe Okpabi, said: 'It has been 10 years now since we started this case, we hope that now Shell will stop these shenanigans and sit down with us to sort this out.
'People in Ogale are dying; Shell need to bring a remedy.
'We thank the judicial system of the UK for this judgment.'
Matthew Renishaw, international development partner at law firm Leigh Day, which represents the claimants, said: 'This outcome opens the door to Shell being held responsible for their legacy pollution as well as their negligence in failing to take reasonable steps to prevent pollution from oil theft or local refining.'
He continued: 'Our clients reiterate, as they have repeatedly for 10 years, that they simply want Shell to clean up their pollution and compensate them for their loss of livelihood.
'It is high time that Shell stop their legal filibuster and do the right thing.'
A Shell spokesperson said that the company welcomed the judgment.
They said: 'For many years, the vast majority of spills in the Niger Delta have been caused by third parties acting unlawfully, such as oil thieves who drill holes in pipelines, or saboteurs.
'This criminality is the cause of the majority of spills in the Bille and Ogale claims, and we maintain that Shell is not liable for the criminal acts of third parties or illegal refining.
'These challenges are managed by a joint venture which Shell's former subsidiary operated, using its expertise in spill response and clean-up.
'The spills referenced in this litigation were cleaned up by the joint venture regardless of the cause, as required by Nigerian law, working closely with government-owned partner NNPC Ltd, Nigerian government agencies and local communities.
'Clean-up certificates were issued by the Nigerian regulator NOSDRA.'
The High Court and the Court of Appeal ruled in 2017 and 2018, respectively, that there was no arguable case that Shell owed the claimants a duty of care, but the Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that there was a 'real issue to be tried'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TechCrunch
20 minutes ago
- TechCrunch
After raising $38M, African e-commerce startup Sabi lays off 20%, pivots to traceable exports
African B2B e-commerce startup Sabi has laid off around 20% of its workforce (~50 employees) as it pivots from its original retail-focused platform to double down on a growing business in commodity exports. The layoffs, confirmed by the company on Thursday, are part of a broader restructuring aimed at aligning resources with what it describes as rising demand for traceable, ethically sourced commodities, an area it began building out last year under a new vertical called TRACE (Technology Rails for African Commodity Exchange). Launched in Lagos in 2020, Sabi began as a software platform helping informal retailers digitize inventory and sales amid COVID-19 disruptions. It later expanded into a fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) marketplace with embedded finance, scaling across Nigeria and Kenya. By mid-2023, Sabi claimed over 300,000 merchants and $1 billion in annualized GMV. That momentum helped it secure a $38 million Series B round at a $300 million valuation. But like many startups in the B2B e-commerce space in Africa, Sabi faced structural headwinds: thin margins, capital intensity, and tough unit economics. Unlike competitors that burned through capital, Sabi maintained an asset-light model and stayed profitable. Still, the market shift has been clear. In March, the company launched TRACE as a new business line, alongside FMCG. The new vertical targets mineral and agricultural exports such as lithium, cobalt, tin, and cash crops, where global buyers increasingly demand transparency, ESG compliance, and traceability. Sabi says it now exports over 20,000 tons of such commodities monthly to buyers across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. It has also launched operations in the U.S. and made senior hires to support that expansion. Techcrunch event Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW 'Sabi is entering its next chapter, with a focused commitment to commodity trade and traceability for global customers,' it said in a statement. 'We're doubling down on the part of our business seeing the most demand, built on the strong foundation we've laid since 2021 by supporting African merchants and their growth. To align with this momentum, we've made the difficult decision to restructure parts of our team.' The transition underscores a broader theme: as informal commerce platforms in Africa search for sustainability, Sabi is showing that evolving into infrastructure plays for global trade is possible. While this strategy offers higher margins and clearer paths to profitability, it can also lead to internal shakeups as Sabi's restructuring shows.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
US airlines suspending some Mideast flights: What to know
Flight disruptions grow as US tensions escalate in the Middle East. American Airlines (AAL) has suspended flights to Qatar through June 22, while United Airlines (UAL) has paused service to Dubai. Morning Brief host Brad Smith breaks down how rising conflict in the region is impacting airlines and energy markets. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Morning Brief here. As President Trump weighs possible US action amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, American companies are making moves of their own. Both American Airlines and United Airlines suspending flights to parts of the region. American has temporarily halted its daily flights to the capital city of Qatar through June 22nd. The move follows a security alert from the US embass embassy in Qatar, urging the Americans to exercise increased vigilance and maintain a low profile. The airlines says it's monitoring the situation and will adjust operations as needed. Meanwhile, United is pausing daily service from New York to Dubai. United says it will continue to monitor the situation and earlier this month, US carriers also paused flights to Tel Aviv after Israel launched airstrikes against Iran. And now, energy giant Shell is warning that a deepening conflict could disrupt global trade, particularly if tensions spill into the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has threatened to block the waterway in the past and recently ships communications in the area have been jammed. The straight links the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean and carries roughly a quarter of the world's oil supply. Shell CEO says the company has contingency contingency plans, excuse me, in place if conditions deteriorate.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Nigerian communities set to have oil pollution High Court claims tried in 2027
Residents of two Nigerian communities who are taking legal action against Shell over oil pollution are set to take their cases to trial at the High Court in 2027. Members of the Bille and Ogale communities in the Niger Delta, which have a combined population of around 50,000, are suing Shell plc and a Nigerian-based subsidiary of the company, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, which is now the Renaissance Africa Energy Company. The two communities began legal action in 2015, claiming they have suffered systemic and ongoing oil pollution for years due to the companies' operations in the African country, including pollution of drinking water. They are seeking compensation and asking for the companies to clean up the damage caused by the spills. The companies are defending the claims, saying that the majority of spills are caused by criminal acts of third parties or illegal oil refining, for which they are not liable. On Friday, Mrs Justice May ruled on more than 20 preliminary issues in the claims, following a hearing held in London over four weeks in February and March. She said that 'some 85 spills have, so far, been identified', but added that the case was 'still at a very early stage'. Her findings included that Shell could be sued for damage from pipeline spills caused by third parties, such as vandals, in efforts to steal oil, a process known as bunkering. She also said that while there was a five-year limitation period on bringing legal claims, a 'new cause of action will arise each day that oil remains' on land affected by the spills. The cases are due to be tried over four months, starting in March 2027. Reacting to the ruling, the leader of the Ogale community, King Bebe Okpabi, said: 'It has been 10 years now since we started this case, we hope that now Shell will stop these shenanigans and sit down with us to sort this out. 'People in Ogale are dying; Shell need to bring a remedy. 'We thank the judicial system of the UK for this judgment.' Matthew Renishaw, international development partner at law firm Leigh Day, which represents the claimants, said: 'This outcome opens the door to Shell being held responsible for their legacy pollution as well as their negligence in failing to take reasonable steps to prevent pollution from oil theft or local refining.' He continued: 'Our clients reiterate, as they have repeatedly for 10 years, that they simply want Shell to clean up their pollution and compensate them for their loss of livelihood. 'It is high time that Shell stop their legal filibuster and do the right thing.' A Shell spokesperson said that the company welcomed the judgment. They said: 'For many years, the vast majority of spills in the Niger Delta have been caused by third parties acting unlawfully, such as oil thieves who drill holes in pipelines, or saboteurs. 'This criminality is the cause of the majority of spills in the Bille and Ogale claims, and we maintain that Shell is not liable for the criminal acts of third parties or illegal refining. 'These challenges are managed by a joint venture which Shell's former subsidiary operated, using its expertise in spill response and clean-up. 'The spills referenced in this litigation were cleaned up by the joint venture regardless of the cause, as required by Nigerian law, working closely with government-owned partner NNPC Ltd, Nigerian government agencies and local communities. 'Clean-up certificates were issued by the Nigerian regulator NOSDRA.' The High Court and the Court of Appeal ruled in 2017 and 2018, respectively, that there was no arguable case that Shell owed the claimants a duty of care, but the Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that there was a 'real issue to be tried'.
