A court in The Hague has ruled that it has the jurisdiction to try a case brought against Shell Nigeria by Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Mileudefensie).
The Dutch environmental organisation and four Nigerians took Shell and its subsidiary Shell Nigeria to court for polluting the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Shell disputed whether or not the court had the authority to hear the case. The company has now accepted that it has.
The case will deal with the alleged pollution and the possible liability of Shell and its Nigerian subsidiary. Friends of the Earth Netherlands says people from the Niger Delta have for years been trying to bring the multi-national to account.
photo: Dutch anti-Shell Nigeria protest (ANP)
Dutch anti-Shell Nigeria protest (ANP)
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Hmmm. Why not put Shell Nigeria's parent company, NNPC, on trial? Why are they immune from the case, considering that they own the majority stake and reap substantial benefits? Is it because NNPC is 100% owned by the Nigerian government, who siphons off billions of dollars annually for their palaces at home and abroad? Would that be why Shell is supposed to take the blame instead? I hope Friends of the Earth gets the courage to one day focus their attention on the real culprits of Nigeria's pollution problem: NNPC and the Nigerian government. Stop blaming the minority foreigners. Please get it right.
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