Corp-Ethics.com - Report: Nigerian senators threaten Shell

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Date	Issue	Title
1st Dec 2004	Questionable Practice	Nigerian senators threaten Shell

Report

Nigeria's senate is to consider sanctions against a unit of Dutch and UK oil company Shell for failing to pay a $1.5bn (£775m) pollution penalty.

The firm had been told to make the payment by 23 November for alleged environmental damage caused by oil spillage in the Niger Delta region. The Senate is now to examine recommendations for penalties.

A letter from Shell rejected the compensation order, describing it as "flawed", Senator John Brambaifa said. The payment resolution was issued by the senate in August, but does not have force of law. It was approved following a petition by residents of the oil-rich state of Bayesla.

The Shell unit, Shell Petroleum Development Corporation, is a joint venture with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Agip, and Elf. Shell has said in the past that it had "strongly contested" the pollution claims and that it was important to note an earlier resolution from Nigeria's House of Representatives did not endorse the penalty.

Mr Brambaifa, who chair the Senate committee on the Niger Delta, accused the firm of "effrontery", and said it was challenging Nigeria's sovereignty. He added that his committee would recommend measures against Shell's Nigerian subsidiary in the next couple of weeks.

He said the committee was also investigating Shell's activities in Nigeria in the past four decades, and its impact on the Niger Delta.

Other Reports on Shell
Date	Issue	Company	Report
24th Feb 2006	Other Issue	Shell	Shell told to pay Nigeria $1.5bn
14th Sep 2005	Other Issue	Shell	Tribunal upholds Shell criticism
12th Aug 2005	Other Issue	Shell	Venezuela-Shell tax row heats up
14th Jul 2005	Other Issue	Shell	Shell faces Venezuelan tax demand
8th Jan 2005	Questionable Practice	Shell	Shell finance supremo wins $1m pay-off
29th Jul 2004	Fraud Investigation	Shell	Shells pays £80m to settle fraud inquiry
25th Jun 2004	Other Issue	Shell	Ex-Shell chief gets £1m pay-off
19th May 2004	Other Issue	Shell	29 Dead in Shell Oil Well fire
23rd Apr 2004	Fraud Investigation	Shell	Shell under investigation by FSA
27th Jan 2004	Other Issue	Shell	$1bn Lawsuit

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