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Shell settles Nigeria deaths case Shell settles Nigeria deaths case
(1 day later)
Royal Dutch Shell has agreed to pay $15.5m to settle a lawsuit which accused the oil firm of complicity in rights abuses in Nigeria. Royal Dutch Shell has agreed a $15.5m (£9.7m) out-of-court settlement in a case accusing it of complicity in human rights abuses in Nigeria.
The case, due for trial in the US next week, was brought by relatives of a group of anti-Shell activists executed in 1995 by Nigeria's military rulers. It was brought by relatives of nine anti-oil campaigners, including author Ken Saro-Wiwa, who were hanged in 1995 by Nigeria's then military rulers.
The families say Shell helped the government to punish the campaigners. The oil giant strongly denies any wrongdoing and says the payment is part of a "process of reconciliation".
But the company insists it did nothing wrong and said the payment was part of a "process of reconciliation". The case, initiated 13 years ago, had been due for trial in the US next week.
Shell official Malcolm Brinded said: "This gesture also acknowledges that, even though Shell had no part in the violence that took place, the plaintiffs and others have suffered." It was brought under a 1789 federal law which allows US courts to hear human rights cases brought by foreign nationals over actions that take place abroad.
'Victory' for campaigners The case alleged that Shell was complicit in murder, torture and other abuses by Nigeria's former military government against campaigners in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
Among those executed was Ken Saro-Wiwa, a prominent writer. Ken Saro-Wiwa and the eight others were members of the Ogoni ethnic group from the Niger Delta. They had been campaigning for the rights of the local people and protesting at pollution caused by the oil industry.
He and other activists had formed a group in 1990 aimed at showing the world the environmental damage they said Shell's drilling was causing in the Niger Delta. Ken Saro-Wiwa Junior described his relief, and lawyer Judith Chomsky said she was thrilled
Had we tried the case and won, the plaintiffs were still looking at years of appeals Paul Hoffman They were executed after being convicted by a military tribunal over the 1994 murder of four local leaders.
But the campaigners were jailed on charges of ordering the 1994 murder of four local leaders. The activists' deaths sparked a storm of international protest.
After a trial, Mr Saro-Wiwa and eight others were hanged. 'Victory'
Their relatives have pursued Shell through the courts ever since. Ken Wiwa, 40, son of Ken Saro-Wiwa, said his father would have been happy with the result.
Ken Saro-Wiwa's 40-year-old son, Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr, said his father would have been happy with the result.
He told the Associated Press that Shell's settlement represented a "victory for us".He told the Associated Press that Shell's settlement represented a "victory for us".
Paul Hoffman, one of the lawyers for the Nigerian families, also expressed his satisfaction with the outcome. Judith Chomsky, of the US-based Centre for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and one of the lawyers who initiated the lawsuit, said she was "thrilled" with the verdict.
She said it sent a message that "corporations, like individuals, must abide by internationally recognised human rights standards".
OGONI TIMELINE 1958 Oil struck in Ogoniland1990 Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (Mosop) formed; Ken Saro-Wiwa is president1993 300,000 Ogonis protest at neglect by government and Shell1993 Shell pull out of Ogoniland after employee is beaten1994 Conflicts flare between local communities, military sent to restore order. Mosop say conflicts being fuelled by government as a 'divide and rule' tactic.1994 Four community leaders killed by mob of youths. Mosop leaders, including Ken Saro-Wiwa, arrested1995 Mr Saro-Wiwa and eight others tried and executed; widespread condemnation of government2003-2008 International attention switches to armed conflict started by other Delta communities 2008 Government announces Shell will be removed as an operator in Ogoniland. Fresh start for Nigerian oil activists? Send us your comments
Paul Hoffman, a lawyer for the Nigerian families, also expressed his satisfaction.
"We litigated with Shell for 13 years and, at the end of the day, the plaintiffs are going to be compensated for the human-rights violations they suffered," he said."We litigated with Shell for 13 years and, at the end of the day, the plaintiffs are going to be compensated for the human-rights violations they suffered," he said.
"Had we tried the case and won, the plaintiffs were still looking at years of appeals," he said."Had we tried the case and won, the plaintiffs were still looking at years of appeals," he said.
The lawyers said a large chunk of the money would be put into a trust to benefit the people of Ogoniland - the area Mr Saro-Wiwa was seeking to protect. Mr Hoffman said $5m would go into a trust to benefit the people of Ogoniland - the area Ken Saro-Wiwa was seeking to protect. The rest would go to the plaintiffs and to pay the costs of litigation.
Shell has not accepted any liability over the allegations against it.
Speaking after the settlement was announced, Shell official Malcolm Brinded said it "acknowledges that, even though Shell had no part in the violence that took place, the plaintiffs and others have suffered."
Weapons allegationsWeapons allegations
The case was first filed in the US in 1996 under a 200-year-old statute allowing people to bring rights abuse cases in US courts even when the alleged crimes took place outside the US.
Shell has always maintained the allegations were false Malcolm BrindedShell
The lawsuit alleged that Shell officials helped to supply Nigerian police with weapons during the 1990s.The lawsuit alleged that Shell officials helped to supply Nigerian police with weapons during the 1990s.
It claimed that Shell participated in security sweeps in parts of Ogoniland and hired government troops that shot at villagers who protested against a pipeline.It claimed that Shell participated in security sweeps in parts of Ogoniland and hired government troops that shot at villagers who protested against a pipeline.
And the papers also alleged that Shell helped the government capture and hang Mr Saro-Wiwa and several of his colleagues. It was also alleged that Shell helped the government capture and hang Ken Saro-Wiwa and several of his colleagues.
"Shell has always maintained the allegations were false," said Mr Brinded."Shell has always maintained the allegations were false," said Mr Brinded.
"While we were prepared to go to court to clear our name, we believe the right way forward is to focus on the future for Ogoni people, which is important for peace and stability in the region.""While we were prepared to go to court to clear our name, we believe the right way forward is to focus on the future for Ogoni people, which is important for peace and stability in the region."
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