Nigerian Government Files $1.1 Billion Lawsuit Against Shell, ENI -- Update
December 13 2018 - 11:46AM
Dow Jones News
(Updates with ENI's response.)
By Adam Clark
The government of Nigeria said Thursday that it has filed a
$1.09 billion claim against Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA.LN) and ENI
SpA (ENI.MI) in London, opening a new front in a long-running
dispute over a 2011 oil-field deal.
Nigeria's claim concerns OPL 245, a prospecting license for a
major offshore oil block purchased by Shell and ENI. Nigeria
alleges Shell and ENI engaged in bribery and unlawful
conspiracy.
"This claim reflects the determination and ongoing efforts of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria to recover the very significant
sums lost to corruption and the unlawful activity of Shell and ENI
in this transaction," said Tom Hibbert of RPC, acting as solicitors
for the Nigerian government.
The OPL 245 deal is already the subject of prosecution in Italy,
and an investigation in the Netherlands. Shell and ENI have both
previously denied wrongdoing.
A spokesperson for Shell said Thursday that the company
maintains the deal was a fully legal transaction.
"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 by the Federal Republic of Nigeria," the
spokesperson said. "However, based on our review of the prosecutor
of Milan's file and all of the information and facts available to
us, we do not believe that there is a case to answer in this
matter."
ENI said it continues to reject any allegation of impropriety or
irregularity in connection with the deal.
"ENI reaffirms that it signed a commercial agreement in 2011 for
a new license for OPL 245 with the Federal Government of Nigeria
and the Nigerian National Petroleum Co., and the consideration for
the license was paid directly to the Nigerian government," the
company said.
Write to Adam Clark at adam.clark@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 13, 2018 12:31 ET (17:31 GMT)
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