Shell plc
A Milan court acquitted Shell, Eni and executives of international corruption over the OPL 245 deal in March 2021S1, and the acquittal became final when prosecutors dropped their appealS3. In Nigeria pollution cases, the Hague Court of Appeal held Shell Nigeria liable for the Oruma and Goi spills on 29 January 2021S5. Shell settled the Dutch case for EUR 15 million in December 2022 without admitting liabilityS6. In England, the Supreme Court allowed the Okpabi claimants' appeal on 12 February 2021S7S8. The High Court decided preliminary issues in the Bille and Ogale claims on 20 June 2025S9, with a full trial expected in 2027S4. A 2017 headline said Shell admitted paying bribesS2.
- Also known as
- Royal Dutch Shell plc, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), now Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Shell Nigeria
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Records from
- Italy, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Nigeria
Scope. This record covers Shell group companies in the OPL 245 case and in Niger Delta pollution litigation. It does not assess Shell's climate cases or the cases of individual executives.
Claims assessed
4 claims. Scores grade the evidence for each claim, not the organization.- Contradicted81An April 2017 Africanews headline said Shell admitted paying bribes to a former Nigerian petroleum minister in the OPL 245 deal.Press report, 10 April 20174 records citedBribery
- Partly supported86Shell said in December 2022 that it continued to believe the Oruma, Goi and Ikot Ada Udo spills in the Dutch case were caused by sabotage.Company statement, 23 December 20224 records citedSafety
- Supported78Reuters reported in December 2022 that Shell would pay EUR 15 million to Nigerian communities to settle the Dutch Oruma, Goi and Ikot Ada Udo spill case.Press report, 23 December 20223 records citedSafety
- Unresolved60Leigh Day, lawyers for the Bille and Ogale communities, said in June 2025 that the High Court found Shell plc and its former Nigerian subsidiary can be held legally responsible for legacy oil pollution.Company statement, 20 June 20255 records citedSafety
Cases and proceedings
- Milan Public Prosecutor v Royal Dutch Shell plc, Eni S.p.A. and othersTribunal of Milan. Criminal. Not published on the pages we read.Stage: Final acquittal
- Milieudefensie and Nigerian farmers v Shell plc and Shell NigeriaCourt of Appeal of The Hague. Civil. ECLI:NL:GHDHA:2021:132, ECLI:NL:GHDHA:2021:133 and ECLI:NL:GHDHA:2021:134, as listed on the court release.Stage: Settled after final liability ruling
- Alame and others v Shell plc and Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited (formerly SPDC)High Court of England and Wales. Civil. KB-2022-005017, KB-2023-000252 and related claims, [2025] EWHC 1539 (KB).Stage: Preliminary issues decided, full trial pending
Responses on record
- Shell, 23 December 2022, on Reuters reported in December 2022 that Shell would pay EUR 15 million to Nigerian communit...
Shell said it settled without admitting liability and still believed the spills were caused by sabotage.S6
Revision history
- Profile and 4 assessments first published. Records checked to 25 October 2026.
Source records
- S1Tier C Shell, Eni Acquitted in Massive Corruption TrialCourthouse News Service (Cain Burdeau). Press report. March 2021.Reports the Milan acquittal of Shell, Eni and executives. It does not give the court's reasons.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S3Tier C Italy prosecutors abandon $1.3 billion Eni Nigeria graft appealThe African Mirror (Emilio Parodi, citing Reuters). Press report. 20 July 2022.Reuters-sourced report that prosecutors dropped the criminal appeal, which makes the acquittals final. It replaces an undated Energy Voice page with no headline shown. It carries no Shell statement.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S5Tier A Shell Nigeria liable for oil spills in NigeriaCourt of Appeal of The Hague (rechtspraak.nl). Government press release. 29 January 2021.Court release on the liability and sabotage findings for each site. It does not set compensation.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S6Tier C Shell to pay $15m settlement over oil spills in NigeriaAl Jazeera (Reuters). Press report. 23 December 2022.Reports the EUR 15 million settlement and Shell's sabotage view. It is not the settlement text.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S7Tier A Okpabi and others (Appellants) v Royal Dutch Shell Plc and another (Respondents)The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Court judgment. 12 February 2021.Case page giving the parties, the judgment date and the citation [2021] UKSC 3.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S8Tier A Press Summary: Okpabi and others (Appellants) v Royal Dutch Shell Plc and another (Respondents) [2021] UKSC 3The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Court judgment. 12 February 2021.Official press summary. The Court allowed the appeal and held the Court of Appeal majority wrong to find no real issue to be tried. It decides jurisdiction, not liability.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S9Tier A Alame & Ors v Shell PLC & AnorHigh Court of Justice, King's Bench Division (The National Archives Find Case Law). Court judgment. 20 June 2025.Judgment of Mrs Justice May, [2025] EWHC 1539 (KB), on 24 preliminary issues ahead of the main trial. The second defendant is named as Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, formerly SPDC. It does not decide liability for any spill.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S4Tier D High Court trial finds Shell plc and former Nigerian subsidiary can be held legally responsible for legacy oil pollution in NigeriaLeigh Day. Company statement. 20 June 2025.Statement by the claimants' law firm on the preliminary issues ruling and the 2027 trial. It is a party account. The judgment itself is S9.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S2Tier C Nigeria: Shell admits to paying bribes to former petroleum ministerAfricanews (with AFP). Press report. 10 April 2017.Origin of the admission headline. The body reports Shell's denial and does not show an admission of bribery.Link working, checked 25 October 2026