The decision by The Hague over Shell's liability for polluting in the Niger Delta shows that justice is possible - but it is extremely hard to achieve if you are taking on a massive multinational, says Amnesty International's Africa programme director Audrey Gaughran.
If Nigerians have to go abroad to obtain justice, as evidenced in the case
of James Ibori who was declared innocent by the Nigerian judiciary but
found guilty by the English judiciary for the same offence, it is either
the Nigerian judiciary is grossly incompetent or corrupt or - most probably
- both. It also raises the question whether Nigeria is truly an independent
country.
Disgraceful. Nigeria has no Government. We have many men and women in
government with university degrees stacked one over the other, yet the
country is languishing in confusion and corruption. Who are these people.
Are they Nigerians?
For Royal Dutch Shell, it was a case of win some, lose some Wednesday as a Dutch court ordered its Nigerian affiliate, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), to pay damages to a Nigerian farmer for oil pollution.
Focus On: Landmark Verdict in Nigeria Oil Case
, Thu 31 Jan, 05:16 am
A Niger Delta farmer will receive compensation after a Hague Court found Shell's local subsidiary "partly liable" for damage to farmlands.
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Nigeria: Shell Case Shows Failure of Nigerian Judiciary
Inter Press Service, 31 January 2013
The decision by The Hague over Shell's liability for polluting in the Niger Delta shows that justice is possible - but it is extremely hard to achieve if you are taking on a massive multinational, says Amnesty International's Africa programme director Audrey Gaughran.
If Nigerians have to go abroad to obtain justice, as evidenced in the case of James Ibori who was declared innocent by the Nigerian judiciary but found guilty by the English judiciary for the same offence, it is either the Nigerian judiciary is grossly incompetent or corrupt or - most probably - both. It also raises the question whether Nigeria is truly an independent country.
Disgraceful. Nigeria has no Government. We have many men and women in government with university degrees stacked one over the other, yet the country is languishing in confusion and corruption. Who are these people. Are they Nigerians?
Nigeria: Dutch Court Orders Shell to Pay Damages to Farmer
This Day (Lagos), 31 January 2013
For Royal Dutch Shell, it was a case of win some, lose some Wednesday as a Dutch court ordered its Nigerian affiliate, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), to pay damages to a Nigerian farmer for oil pollution.