“Niger delta communities to sue Shell in London for oil spill compensation,” 7 Jan 2015

Niger delta communities hit by oil spills will bypass Nigerian courts and try to sue Shell and other oil companies in London following the…settlement awarded…to…people in Bodo, say community chiefs and non-government groups…“…Shell…are a big company and if we go to the Nigerian courts, they will win,” said Abere [a Bonny island community leader]...“Communities will now look to London for justice. In Nigeria they know they cannot get redress. People get no individual compensation…,” said Akpobari [who works with…Social Action]. The tendency of Nigerian courts to side with oil companies when they appeal against lower court awards was acknowledged by an oil company source who said…: “It is not unusual for large awards to be made against companies in the Nigerian courts but often they are overturned on appeal...” Leigh Day say…they plan to investigate four other pollution claims against Shell because the English court system is fairer...