Relatives of murdered activists say Royal Dutch Shell played a role in their executions

A landmark human rights trial against Royal Dutch Shell for human rights abuses in Nigeria has been postponed.

The case, filed in 1996, is on behalf of relatives of murdered activists campaigning against ecological damage allegedly brought about by oil extraction.

Shell is accused of being complicit in the November 10, 1995 execution of Nigerian activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and other leaders opposed to Shell’s alleged human rights and environmental abuses in the Niger Delta.

The case also includes claims for the torture, illegal detainment and crimes against humanity, said the Center for Constitutional Rights, one of the organisations involved in the trial.

“Shell is accused of being complicit in the November 10, 1995 execution of Nigerian activist Ken Saro-Wiwa

Shell could be forced to pay hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damages, according to reports.

Royal Dutch Shell vigorously denies all the allegations.

The case had previously been scheduled to begin May 27, 2009 in the Southern District of New York.