Oil firm Shell settles Nigeria case

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The company acknowledged no wrongdoing in the 1995 hangings of six people opposed to oil exploration, including playwright and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa.

Shell said it agreed to settle the action in the hope of aiding the "process of reconciliation" and also recognised that the victims' families had suffered.

Mr Saro-Wiwa's son, Ken Jr, who helped bring the lawsuit in the US District Court in New York, hailed the payout as "a victory".

The action accused Shell of colluding with the country's former military government to silence environmental and human rights activists in the country. It was strongly denied by the oil giant.

Among the claims were that Shell officials helped furnish Nigerian police with weapons, participated in security sweeps of the area, and hired government troops that shot at villagers protesting over the construction of a pipeline.

Mr Saro-Wiwa, who led rallies against Shell and blamed the company for numerous oil spills and gas fires in the Ogoni region, was executed on November 10, 1995 along with eight other oil activists.

A Nigerian military tribunal convicted them on what were widely viewed as trumped-up charges of murdering four political rivals. At the time, then-Prime Minister John Major called the executions "judicial murder".

Speaking after Shell's settlement was announced, Mr Saro-Wiwa Jnr, 40, said: "I think (my father) would be happy with this. The fact that (Shell) would have to settle is a victory for us."

Besides compensating the families, the money will pay for years of legal fees. And a large chunk of the settlement -- about a third -- will create a trust that will invest in social programmes in the country including educational endowments, agricultural development, support for small enterprise and adult literacy programmes.