A UK High Court has ruled that oil giant Shell plc and its former Nigerian subsidiary—now known as Renaissance Africa Energy—can be held accountable for decades of oil pollution in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. The judgment, delivered on Friday, June 20, 2025, by Justice May, marks a significant victory for the communities of Bille and Ogale in Rivers State, who have spent a decade seeking justice.
The court dismissed Shell’s attempt to avoid liability for widespread environmental damage, clearing the path for a full trial scheduled for early 2027. That trial will examine Shell’s alleged failure to clean up contamination, its role in illegal oil activities, and the devastating impact of chronic oil spills on more than 50,000 residents.
In her ruling, Justice May rejected Shell’s argument that claims older than five years should be time-barred, stating that ongoing pollution constitutes a continuing breach of duty. “A new cause of action will arise each day that oil remains on a claimant’s land,” she ruled, striking a blow to Shell’s efforts to escape long-term liability.
The court also ruled that Shell could not deflect blame by pointing to oil theft and illegal refining, especially where the company failed to secure its infrastructure—or where its staff may have been complicit.
King Bebe Okpabi, leader of the Ogale community, welcomed the judgment: “It has been 10 years since we started this case. People in Ogale are dying. Shell must now bring a remedy. We thank the UK judicial system for this decision.”
Law firm Leigh Day, representing the communities, described the ruling as a landmark in the fight for environmental justice. Partner Matthew Renshaw said, “Shell’s efforts to restrict these claims have been comprehensively rejected. This opens the door to holding them accountable for both historic pollution and failure to prevent ongoing damage.”
Another major development is the court’s decision that Shell plc, the UK-based parent company, can be held liable for the actions of its former Nigerian subsidiary. This builds on the precedent set by the 2021 UK Supreme Court ruling in Okpabi v Shell, allowing foreign victims to sue multinational parent companies in British courts.
The court also acknowledged the serious health and environmental consequences of Shell’s operations. Although it left questions of constitutional rights violations to Nigerian courts, Justice May noted a growing recognition that pollution can engage the right to life.
Communities in Bille and Ogale have faced contaminated water, destroyed farmland, dying fisheries, and rising health issues for decades. Despite a 2011 UN report urging urgent clean-up, meaningful remediation has yet to happen.
“Our clients have always asked for two things: clean-up and compensation,” said Renshaw. “It’s time for Shell to stop the legal delay tactics and take responsibility.”
If found liable at the 2027 trial, Shell and Renaissance Africa Energy could face significant damages and be forced to fund a full environmental clean-up.
