Dutch court to rule in Nigerian farmers' case against Shell

A Dutch court will decide on Wednesday whether Shell should clean up oil damage that destroyed a group of Nigerian farmers’ land, a case that could set a precedent for global environmental responsibility.

Thousands of miles from their homes in the Niger delta, four Nigerian farmers and fishermen have dragged the Anglo-Dutch oil giant into court in a civil suit that could open the door for hundreds of similar cases.

The plaintiffs are backed by environmental lobby group Friends of the Earth.