The United Kingdom Supreme Court has ruled that polluted Nigerian communities can take legal actions against oil giant Shell in English Courts.
The verdict by the supreme court, which overturns a court of appeal ruling, is seen as a victory for the communities after a 5-year battle
According to a report from BBC, the judgement by the Supreme Court, UK’s final appeal court for civil cases, ruled that the cases brought by the Bille community and the Ogale people of Ogoniland against Royal Dutch Shell were arguable and could proceed in the English courts.
The Niger Delta communities say decades of pollution have severely impacted their lives, health, and the local environment.
Shell in its defence had argued that it was only a holding company for a firm that should be judged under Nigerian law.