Shell agrees £55m settlement with Bodo Community

Royal Dutch Shell has agreed a £55 million compensation package for the Bodo Community and its 15,600 fishermen following two oil spills in Niger Delta in 2008 and 2009. The oils spills destroyed thousands of hectares of mangrove in the Gokana River state which is the largest man made disaster of this kind. The compensation package means £35 million will be split between individuals affected by the disaster and £20 million will given to the Bodo Community which is thought to be one of the largest pay-outs to a community following environmental damage. The settlement follows a three year legal battle by London based law firm Leigh Day & Co. Pump Court Chambers were instructed to provide expert advice on the quantum of damages.

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