A broad coalition of civil society organisations and legal experts has declared strong support for His Royal Majesty, King Bubaraye Dakolo, Agada IV of Ekpetiama Kingdom and Chair of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, as the Federal High Court in Yenagoa begins hearing a landmark environmental justice suit against Shell and key Nigerian federal agencies.
The case filed against Shell, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Attorney General of the Federation challenges Shell’s attempt to divest its onshore oil assets in the Niger Delta without addressing decades of environmental degradation and corporate neglect.
King Dakolo’s suit argues that Shell’s planned divestment from its subsidiary, the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), is illegal and unjust unless the oil giant fulfills its environmental obligations. These include decommissioning obsolete infrastructure, cleaning up polluted sites, and paying adequate compensation to the Ekpetiama people for damages suffered over more than six decades.
The plaintiffs maintain that Shell’s exit if allowed without reparations would violate the Nigerian Constitution and environmental laws, and that federal regulators have failed to protect impacted communities from corporate impunity. “This divestment is a crude attempt by Shell to run away from the disaster it created. We demand justice, not abandonment.
Shell must clean up, compensate, and decommission. Only then can it leave,” said King Dakolo. The lawsuit draws heavily from the findings of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission (BSOEC), which includes experts from Africa, Europe, and North America. The Commission reported that: Bayelsa State suffers some of the worst oil pollution globally.
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Over 1.5 million people are exposed to hazardous chemicals, including benzene and chromium, at levels far exceeding global safety standards. Contaminated soil, air, and water have devastated fishing and farming livelihoods, with some fish stocks declining by over 70%. Shell has failed to properly decommission abandoned infrastructure, contributing to ongoing pollution.
Lead counsel, Barrister Chuks Uguru, said the plaintiffs are seeking declarations from the court that: Shell’s divestment without remediation violates constitutional rights to life and dignity. The Federal government must enforce the law and prevent the transfer of polluted assets to successor firms. Any asset sale must be suspended until Shell demonstrates full compliance with environmental standards and community obligations.
Support for the suit comes from a united front of national and international organisations, including Social Action Nigeria, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), the International Working Group on Petroleum Pollution and the Just Transition in the Niger Delta (IWG), Bayelsa NGOs Forum (BANGOF), HEDA Resource Centre, and Kebetkache Women Development Centre.
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“Shell wants to exit with profit, leaving behind toxic air, poisoned water, and broken communities. We are here to say no more,” said Dr. Isaac Asume Osuoka of Social Action Nigeria. “This is a test case for corporate accountability. Just transition must include clean-up, restoration, and reparation before oil firms walk away,” said Dr. Kathryn Nwajiaku‑Dahou, co-convener of the IWG
Legal scholars and environmental advocates see the case as a potential precedent for holding fossil fuel companies accountable during the global transition to cleaner energy—especially in vulnerable, resource-rich communities in the Global South. “This case sets a precedent,” said Professor Engobo Emeseh, Head of Law at the University of Bradford.
“It says clearly: there can be no just energy transition without corporate accountability, environmental restoration, and community consent.” The coalition is urging the Federal High Court to: Restrain Shell from finalising any asset transfer until all legal and environmental responsibilities are met. Compel Nigerian regulators to enforce the Petroleum Industry Act.
Affirm the rights of Niger Delta communities to clean environments and sustainable livelihoods. “The court has a unique opportunity to uphold justice, protect the rule of law, and demonstrate that no corporation is above accountability in Nigeria,” said Olanrewaju Suraju, Director of HEDA Resource Centre.
