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Nigerian victims take Shell to court

On Thursday, 3 December 2009, the unique legal action taken by four Nigerian victims of Shell oil leaks, in conjunction with Milieudefensie, will begin at the court in The Hague. This is the first time in history that a Dutch company has been brought to trial in a Dutch court for damages occurring abroad.

The Nigerian farmers and fishers, who lost their livelihoods after oil from leaking Shell pipelines streamed over their fields and fishing ponds, are claiming compensation from the Anglo-Dutch oil giant. They also want Shell to clean up the oil which remains in the land, so that they can return to farming and fishing.

>> Milieudefensie: The People of Nigeria versus Shell
>> Remember Sarowiwa: Four Nigerian Farmers Take Shell to Court in the Hague

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Guardian: Outrage at UN decision to exonerate Shell for oil pollution in Niger delta - Mon, 23 Aug 2010

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Amnesty: Human rights defender beaten unconscious at police check point - Tue, 17 Aug 2010

Amnesty International today condemned the unlawful assault of Sebastian Kpalap, a human rights defender and his brother-in law, Sunday Pilla and urged the Nigerian authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the incident. The men were brutally assaulted after refusing to pay a bribe to an officer at a police checkpoint in Rivers state, Nigeria.

Amnesty: Father of Human Rights defender attacked - Tue, 17 Aug 2010

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In a surprise move, the Nigeria Bar Association yesterday joined fourteen civil society groups demanding for the suspension of Sections 132 and 178 of the amended 1999 Constitution, recommending that the relevant portions take effect from 2015.

234Next.com: Lawmakers add N4bn to NDDC budget - Thu, 12 Aug 2010

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Lagos — Officials of Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) at the Qua Iboe Oil Export Terminal in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom, have visited areas affected by Monday's oil spill.

Communities near the oil facility operated by the oil company have recorded four oil spills in the past six months.

The spills occurred on Dec. 4, 2009, March 24, May 1, and June 21.

Locals have appealed to NOSDRA to restrain Mobil from using chemical dispersants to contain oil spills, noting that the poisonous chemical kills fish fingerlings.

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The Nation: Civil Society Groups demand for oil spill compensation - Fri, 16 Jul 2010

Environmental Rights Groups have raised serious concerns about oil spills in the Niger Delta. The groups made up of leading local and international human, children and environmental rights groups have insisted on the need for the establishment of an independent compensation body to address oil spill challenges in the Niger Delta region.

Sweetcrude: Vanguard's monthly review of the Nigerian Energy Industry - Mon, 12 Jul 2010

Packed with industry news, coupled with news of oil spills and the political and administrative challenges faced by the Oil Sector and Government Agencies this is a must-read for those wanting to understand perspecives from the official angle.