But it found a subsidiary of the firm, Shell Nigeria, responsible for one spill and ordered it to pay compensation to one Nigerian farmer. The level of damages will be set later. The case was brought by Friends of the Earth and four farmers, who alleged their fish ponds and land had been poisoned by leaking pipelines. The court said Shell was only guilty of negligence. “The district court has established that four oil spills were not caused by defective maintenance by Shell but by sabotage from third parties,” it said.
