A Dutch court will give a verdict on Friday (today) in a legal case between Shell and four Niger Delta farmers who accused the oil giant of polluting their environment with oil spillage. 

The case was taken up by the Dutch arm of an environmental group, Friends of the Earth. The case has, so far, lasted for 13 years.. It will be the first time the Dutch company will be held accountable for its actions.

An appeal court sitting in The Hague will rule on Friday on the farmers’ demands for the Anglo-Dutch firm to clean up the oil spills that ravaged their three villages in the Niger Delta and pay compensation.

The case was initiated in 2008, facing delays as Shell argued that courts in the Netherlands did not have the jurisdiction to hear the matter. In this time, two of the farmers had died.

In 2013, A lower court in the Netherlands held Shell liable for the Ikot Ada Udo leak. Its parent company, however, could not be held responsible for its Nigerian subsidiary actions.

In 2015, the Hague Appeal court ruled that Dutch courts had jurisdiction and could hear the case.

In 2020, lawyers presented video evidence of burning oil spills in the southeastern villages and villagers dragging their hands through oil-polluted water sources, at a court hearing.

In previous allegations, Shell denied its involvement, saying saboteurs caused the spills. The oil giant also claimed to have cleaned up the communities.

The court’s decision will establish whether Shell is responsible for the oil leaks and whether it has put in place measures to prevent more spills in the future.