Bowoto v. Chevron: The Oil Company's Misleading Public Statements

Chevron has been actively misleading its American customers and the American press about its involvement in human rights abuses in Nigeria. A few highlights:

1. Chevron Says It Was Not Involved in the Brutal Attacks on Nigerian Villagers
Chevron’s Misleading Public Statements:
“A Chevron spokesman . . . denied Chevron supports, condones, or in any way cooperates with perpetrators of violence.”
— Wall Street Journal, May 28. 1999

“The bottom line of it all is Chevron has not been involved or connected to any internal police activities in Nigeria.”
— Chevron spokesman, Los Angeles Times, February 24, 1999

Chevron was “required to notify the Nigerian authorities,” whose “law enforcement agencies” then made the decision “how and if they w[ould] respond.”
— Chevron Media Statement, October 1998

The Truth: “[P]laintiffs present evidence that CNL (Chevron Nigeria Limited) personnel were directly involved in the attacks; CNL transported the GSF (Nigerian government security forces), CNL paid the GSF; and CNL knew that GSF were prone to use excessive force. . . . CNL did not simply ‘dial 911.’”
— Federal Judge Susan Illston, August 14, 2007 Order Denying Summary Judgment