The Federal Government is reported to have sued oil giants, Shell and Eni in London, requesting the return of $1.1 billion (969 million euros) as part of a case of alleged corruption dating back to 2011,
According to a report by Bloomberg on Thursday, the Nigerian government alleged that the money was used by the companies to buy an oil exploration licence in the Gulf of Guinea but was eventually diverted to bribes and kickbacks.
The government alleges that Shell and Eni were partly responsible for the fact that “corrupt Nigerian officials” used the money for personal enrichment, it added. The alleged corruption is already the subject of a separate court case in Milan in which Nigeria is a civil party.
Shell and Eni have always denied any unlawful action. In a statement sent to AFP on Thursday, a Shell spokesman said that the deal in 2011 was “a fully legal transaction with Eni and the Federal Government of Nigeria”.
“Since this matter is before the Tribunal of Milan, it would not be appropriate for us to comment in detail on the new claims that have been made,” it said.
It would be recalled that a Milan judge in September sentenced two people considered intermediaries to four years in prison each. The two were tried separately from the main trial involving Eni and Shell which opened earlier this year in Milan.
The latest move by the Federal Government to bring the two international oil companies to justice is seen as part of the current anti-graft crusade by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
President Buhari on assumption of office pledged to recover what he said were “mind-boggling” sums of public money stolen during previous administrations.
