SAN FRANCISCO, December 20, (THEWILL) – A Judge in Milan, Italy, has ordered Eni and fellow petroleum company, Shell, to stand trial in Italy over allegations of bribery and corruption in the 2011 purchase of an offshore oil block in Nigeria.
The judge, in his ruling, ordered Eni, Shell and key figures such as Eni’s Chief Executive, Claudio Descalzi, and his predecessor, Paolo Scaroni, to stand trial in the proceedings which will begin on March 5.
The companies have been accused of corruption in the 2011 purchase of OPL245, an offshore oil block estimated to hold 9 billion barrels of crude, for $1.3 billion.
They were accused of aiding corruption in Nigeria over the deal, which allegedly saw Nigeria’s former President, Goodluck Jonathan, and his Oil Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, pocket bribes.
However, Eni’s Board of Directors has reaffirmed its confidence that the company was not involved in alleged corrupt activities in relation to the transaction.
“Eni expresses its full confidence in the judicial process and that the trial will ascertain and confirm the correctness and integrity of its conduct,” the Italian firm said in a statement on Wednesday.
It insisted in particular that “Chief Executive Claudio Descalzi was not involved in the alleged illegal conduct.”
