The British oil trader Trafigura has offered to pay out in a historic damages claim from 31,000 Africans injured by the dumping of toxic waste in one of the worst pollution disasters in recent history, the Guardian can reveal. The compensation deal for the victims of toxic oil waste dumping in west Africa – likely to be confirmed imminently – means the full extent of attempts to cover up what really happened can be detailed for the first time. The truth is laid bare in Trafigura's hitherto secret documents, published by the Guardian today... Martyn Day...a senior partner at the British law firm Leigh Day...said today in Abidjan, where he has been negotiating the settlement: "The claimants are very pleased."... Trafigura said it "utterly rejected" claims of a cover-up. "Every statement that has been made…has been made in good faith."