France, Feb. 13 -- The High Court in London commenced a hearing to address allegations that the oil company Shell has polluted vast areas of the Niger Delta in Nigeria, particularly in regions traditionally claimed by the Ogoni people.

Shell and its Nigerian subsidiary SPDC claim that the spills in the region were caused by sabotage or illegal refining.

The villagers, supported by Amnesty International Nigeria, say that decades of spills have damaged farms and waterways.

"The pollution created by the oil giant has caused immense damage to the local environment, depriving thousands of people of access to clean drinking water," said the NGO Amnesty International.

"Sabotage and its consequences are insignificant compared to the destructi...