On July 5, 2010, a Nigerian federal high court ordered Shell Nigeria to pay 15.4 billion naira (roughly US$100 million) in special and punitive damages to a Rivers State community for an oil spill that occurred in 1970. The Ejama-Ebubu community filed suit in 2001 seeking damages and mandated clean-up of this spill, which has affected an area of approximately 630 acres.

Justice Buba, who entered the July 5, 2010 judgment, awarded damages based on the value of crops, loss of income from farming, and hunting; “injurious affection”; water supply; health hazards; and shock, fear, and desecration of shrines, among other elements. The award also included punitive damages of 10 billion naira (US$66.8 million) for “general inconveniences, acid rain, pollution of underground water and hardship to the population who have been deprived of the right to self sustenance, education and good life.”

Calling for more than just a monetary remedy, the judge directed Shell Nigeria to “de-pollute and rehabilitate the dry land swamps to its pre-impact status.”

In making these findings, Justice Buba wrote that “from the nature of the damages caused, the amount of general damages claimed is not exaggerated” and that “upon calm assessment on the unchallenged evidence of the plaintiffs,” he had “come to one and only inevitable conclusion, that the case of the plaintiffs have merit and accordingly accept the evidence that is capable of belief.”

More here.