New York, May 26th, 2009 – Opening arguments in the landmark human rights lawsuits Wiwa v. Royal Dutch Petroleum (Shell) and Wiwa v. Anderson were called off at the last moment, in a signal that negotiations may be underway for a settlement in the historic case.
The case was previously scheduled to begin tomorrow, May 27, 2009 in the Southern District of New York.
The suits, first filed in 1996, were brought on behalf of relatives of murdered Nigerian/ Ogoni activists by the Center for Constitutional Rights and EarthRights International and other human rights lawyers. According to the plaintiffs, Royal Dutch Shell was complicit in the swift conviction and execution by hanging on Nov. 10, 1995 of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other leaders opposed to human rights and environmental abuses in the Niger Delta linked to Shell. The case also include claims for the torture, detention, and forced exile of Mr. Saro-Wiwa’s brother, Dr. Owens Wiwa, and Michael Tema Vizor; and the shooting of Karololo Kogbara and Uebari N-nah in two earlier attacks by Nigerian military.
Sources told Saharareporters that Shell, fearing massive negative publicity that would attend the trial, is seriously exploring an out-of-court settlement. It is unclear at presstime who requested the postponement of today's trial.
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