An Italian judge has ordered oil majors Royal Dutch Shell and Eni to stand trial over alleged corruption, in a case involving the 2011 $1.3 billion purchase of an offshore oil block in Nigeria that is estimated to hold 9 billion barrels of crude.
The judge in Milan ordered Eni, Shell and key figures such as Eni chief Claudio Descalzi and his predecessor Paolo Scaroni to stand trial in proceedings to begin in March.
All the parties involved have previously denied any wrongdoing over the deal in which Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan and his oil minister were said to have received bribes.
Advertisement
Both companies have repeatedly maintained that they acquired the rights to the lucrative block in line with Nigerian law.
Related posts:
Shell, Eni to stand trial in Italy over Nigeria corruption scandal
Court Acquits Shell, ENI of corruption in Malabu oil case in Milan, Italy
Malabu oil scandal : ENI, Shell’s trial postponed to May 14
Alleged fraud: Chief Judge transfers Fayose’s trial to another Judge
Shell, Eni seek injunction to stop forfeiture of licence
Court returns OPL 245 to Shell, Eni companies
Oil Spills: Amnesty International accuses Shell, Eni of negligence
Nigeria files $1.1 bn London lawsuit against Shell, Eni over oil deal
