Supreme Court to hear Nigerian communities’ pollution claims against Shell

The UK Supreme Court will hear arguments from the Ogale and Bille communities in Nigeria that Shell should be held accountable significant and systematic pollution caused by oil extraction in the Niger delta.

They say they have suffered decades of pollution, including the contamination of their water wells with potentially cancer-causing chemicals, as well as the devastation of mangrove vegetation, all of which was documented by the UN

The UN reported it could take 30 years to clean up the pollution caused by oil extraction and recommended an initial fund of $1bn (£800m) for the first five years to be paid by the oil companies that operate in Ogoniland – including the largest company, Shell.

The High Court ruled in January 2017 that Shell was not responsible for the harm because it was merely a holding company that did not exercise any control over its subsidiary.

Wrigley Claydon Solicitors have been trusted for 225 years and have offices in Manchester, Oldham and Todmorden