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Shell Settles Nigeria Case for $15.5M

Saro-Wiwa settlement is milestone for international law

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 9, 2009 5:40 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Royal Dutch Shell agreed to settle a lawsuit over the 1995 deaths of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Nigerians for $15.5 million, reports the Financial Times. Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists against petroleum exploitation were executed by the Nigerian military government, allegedly at the behest of the oil giant. In a statement Shell continued to deny it had any role in their deaths, but said it would focus on "the process of reconciliation."

Shell was being sued in New York under the Alien Tort Claims Act, an 18th-century statute that allows foreigners to bring human rights cases before US courts. The law was largely neglected until recent years, when lawyers began using it to seek redress for international law violations. "This settlement provides another building block in the efforts to forge a legal system that holds violators accountable wherever they may be," said the plaintiff's trial counsel.

Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr., whose father and eight others oil industry opponents were executed on Nov. 10, 1995, after a military tribunal convicted them on trumped-up charges.
Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr., whose father and eight others oil industry opponents were executed on Nov. 10, 1995, after a military tribunal convicted them on trumped-up charges.   (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Royal Dutch Shell settled a lawsuit Wednesday, June 3, that accused the oil giant of playing a role in the executions of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and other civilians by Nigeria's former regime.
Royal Dutch Shell settled a lawsuit Wednesday, June 3, that accused the oil giant of playing a role in the executions of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and other civilians by Nigeria's former regime.   (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
Chief Executive of Royal Dutch Shell, Jeroen van der Veer, addresses the 14th Asia Oil and Gas Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday, June 8, 2009.
Chief Executive of Royal Dutch Shell, Jeroen van der Veer, addresses the 14th Asia Oil and Gas Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday, June 8, 2009.   (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Shell CEO Jeroen van der Veer listens during a press conference in The Hague, Netherlands, Thursday Jan. 29, 2009.
Shell CEO Jeroen van der Veer listens during a press conference in The Hague, Netherlands, Thursday Jan. 29, 2009.   (AP Photo/ Fred Ernst)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Chudluv
Jun 10, 2009 1:14 AM CDT
Your surprised?
Mr.C
Jun 9, 2009 7:03 AM CDT
and this is how things work. Wedding rings contain diamonds, Cell phones contain coltan, and Automobiles contain petroleum. All of which are sources of horrors in Africa.
JonmarkP
Jun 9, 2009 1:12 AM CDT
So Shell murders dissidents who get in their way - so what? They were making a profit for their wealthy stockholders, so it's ok. It cost them about fifteen minutes of profit, no one from Shell is going to jail, business as usual for corporate killers.

What is the Alien Tort Claims Act?
Global Policy Forum

 
Africa • oil • human rights • Shell • Nigeria • petroleum • international law • Royal Dutch Shell • Ken Saro-Wiwa

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