Environmental organisation Milieudefensie and four Nigerian farmers have been given the go ahead to sue Shell and Shell Nigeria in the Netherlands, news agency ANP reports.

Judges in the Hague said on Wednesday the case may go ahead despite Shell’s claim that the Dutch courts do not have jurisdiction.
The villagers and Milieudefensie want to hold the Netherlands- based oil giant responsible for a leaking pipeline owned by its Nigerian subsidiary, which polluted farmland and woods in 2005.
They argue that Shell and its Nigerian arm are so closely linked that the court would be justified in taking the case. Shell says the case should be heard in Nigeria.
The case will start on February 10. Milieudefensie and the farmers are demanding Shell clean up the spillages and compensate farmers for loss of income.