Dutch court will hear widows' case against Shell over deaths of Ogoni Nine

Judges order oil firm to release confidential documents as wives of late Nigerian activists get go-ahead to pursue claim

A Dutch court has ruled that it has jurisdiction to determine whether Royal Dutch Shell was complicit in the Nigerian government's execution of the Ogoni Nine, environmental protesters who fought against widespread pollution in the Niger Delta.

In a 50-page ruling hailed by campaigners as an "important precedent" for global human rights cases, judges at The Hague's district court said on Wednesday that they would allow the case to go forward, also indicating that the claimants - widows of four of the activists - would be able to bring further evidence to prove their case.