A tribal king in Nigeria has filed a $US1 billion compensation lawsuit against Royal Dutch Shell for decades of pollution from the corporation leading to sickness in his people and damage caused to their lands. The lawsuit was filed the day after the US Supreme Court said it will consider abuse of human rights, caused by Shell in Nigeria, as a landmark case, opening up the possibility that overseas companies could now be liable for torture or genocide.
This case alleges that Shell’s Nigerian operations are, “well below internationally recognised standards to prevent and control pipeline oil spills,” because the Anglo-Dutch company, “has not employed the best available technology and practices that they use elsewhere in the world.”