More than 13,000 people from two communities in Nigeria have filed individual claims against the oil company Shell at the High Court in London.
Residents from the Ogale and Bille communities in the Niger Delta want Shell to clean up oil spills and compensate them for the damage to their land.
The claims, which were filed on Friday, are the latest development in a seven-year legal battle.
A spokesperson for the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) told the BBC that the majority of spills referred to in the Ogale and Bille claims were caused by third-party interference, including pipeline sabotage, illegal bunkering and other forms of oil theft.
Abimbola Essien-Nelson added that the illegal refining of stolen crude oil also happened on a large scale in these areas and was a major source of oil pollution.
Regardless of the cause, she said: "SPDC has and will continue to clean up and remediate areas affected by spills from its facilities or pipeline network."
But the British law firm representing the communities says that no clean-up has taken place and that there have been 55 new oil spills in the Ogale community since September 2011.
A press release from the Leigh Day firm states Shell has filed a legal defence claiming that the communities do not have the legal right to enforce a clean-up against Shell.
Both communities are in Ogoniland, one of the most polluted regions in the world.
Despite a 2011 UN report recommending that the area be cleaned up immediately, residents still don’t have access to clean water and farmland.
In 2021 Shell announced it was leaving Nigeria and selling its onshore assets in the country after operating in the country for 80 years.
Shell has reported record annual profits after energy prices surged last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It made $39.9bn (£32.2bn) in 2022, the highest in its 115-year history.
Latest Stories
-
Dave Bishop to be enstooled as Development Chief of Nyanfeku Ekroful in Ghana
52 mins -
Ex-DEA informant pleads guilty to role in killing Haitian president
1 hour -
Despite Gaza death toll soaring, US unlikely to rethink weapons supplies to Israel
2 hours -
Partner Ghana to undertake projects under ETF – Energy Minister to Investors at COP28
2 hours -
Catholic nuns sue Smith & Wesson to halt its assault-style weapons sales
2 hours -
It’s good A-G is going to appeal Aisha Huang ruling – Martin Kpebu
2 hours -
Israel Gaza: Hamas raped and mutilated women on 7 October, BBC hears
5 hours -
Swine flu: UK detects first human case of new strain
6 hours -
NPP primaries: David Asante declares intention to contest Nkawkaw seat
6 hours -
Mohammed Ali: Analysis on the most suitable candidate to partner Bawumia as running mate
6 hours -
Akufo-Addo’s refusal to sign bills a deliberate effort to frustrate Parliament’s work – Xavier Sosu
7 hours -
Police arrest 10 at Winneba protest for pelting officers with stones
7 hours -
ESG crucial for sustainable infrastructure delivery – Ghana Consulting Engineers Association
7 hours -
Ofori-Atta seeks “urgent support” for climate vulnerable countries to fulfil prosperity plans
7 hours -
More investments needed to strengthen climate change resilience of African farmers – AGRA president
7 hours