Free film Screening: Esther and the Law (with Q&A)

Amnesty International, Amnesty International UK and Maynooth University, Ireland presents Esther and the Law. This screening is in remembrance of the 30th Anniversary since the execution of the Ogoni Nine; Baribor Bera, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Barinem Kiobel, John Kpuine, Paul Levera, and Felix Nuate and Ken Saro-Wiwa.

Film Synopsis: A Movies That Matter official selection, directed by Tatiana Scheltema, the film Esther and the Law chronicles one woman's fight against a multinational corporation. For decades, Esther Kiobel has fought for justice for her husband, Dr Barinem Kiobel, who was one of the nine men executed in 1995, by the then Nigerian military government, after campaigning against Shell's pollution of Ogoniland, Nigeria. Almost 25 years later Esther takes Shell to court in the Netherlands.

The Q&A panel will include:

Esther Kiobel is a human rights defender who was forced to flee Nigeria in 1995 when her husband Dr Barinem Kiobel was unlawfully executed and their home firebombed. After taking shelter in a refugee camp in Benin, she relocated her young family to the United States with support from Amnesty International. She went on to take high-profile court cases against Royal Dutch/Shell at the US Supreme Court and The Hague. Esther has spent decades fighting to clear her husband’s name. In 2025, Nigerian President Tinubu granted him a posthumous pardon, but Esther is still calling for him to be exonerated.

Mark Dummett (Chair) is the Head of Business and Human Rights at Amnesty International’s International Secretariat in London where he has led investigative research projects into emblematic cases of corporate human rights abuses. Working closely with researchers, campaigners, advocates and policy experts, his projects have included oil pollution in Nigeria, child labour in cobalt mines in the DRC, abuses linked to giant copper mines in Myanmar and to businesses operating in illegal settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territories. Mark is currently on sabbatical from Amnesty to write a book about Shell in Nigeria.

Emma O’Brien is an associate solicitor at Leigh Day, a UK-based law firm recognised for its commitment to bringing cases that advance justice and human rights. She is part of the firm’s International Group Litigation team, where she focuses on representing Nigerian communities in their efforts to hold Shell accountable for widespread oil pollution in the Niger Delta. Prior to joining Leigh Day, Emma worked at the environmental NGO ClientEarth, where she was part of the corporate accountability team.

Simeon B. Kpoturu is an Environmentalist, Human Rights Advocate, and an Author. He has been campaigning as part of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) in the UK since the 1990s. His book, Ogoni: The struggle for justice was published in 2021.

Event Timings:

18:00-18:15: Doors Open

18:15-19:30: Esther and the Law (72 mins)

19:30-20:15: Q&A

Venue: 93 - 95 Mile End Road, Whitechapel, London, E1 4UJ: Home | Genesis Cinema

The screening will be in Screen 2. The bar area has been reserved from 17:00-18:00 and then 20:30-21:30).

Tube stations: The Genesis Cinema is a short walk from both Whitechapel (Hammersmith & City, District, Windrush) and Stepney Green (Hammersmith & City, District) tube stations.

Disabled Access: There are disabled access seats available. Please email dominic.twomey@amnesty.org if you require one of these seats.