The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has closed its investigation into alleged corruption by Italian oil company Eni for its activities in Nigeria and Algeria. The DOJ took no action.
Eni and oil major Royal Dutch Shell are accused of corruption regarding Nigeria’s OPL 245 offshore field, where they allegedly paid around $1.3bn to buy the field.
Eni is still on trial in Milan, and the company denies involvement in any corrupt activities regarding OPL 245.
“[The] decision by the DOJ confirms the findings of independent advisors, who conducted investigations into the claims following the decision taken by Eni’s controlling bodies, which also found no illegal activity,” Eni wrote in a press release. “Eni is confident that the allegations currently put forward before they Court of Milan will be found to be groundless.”
Prosecutors in Milan claim that around $1.1bn was used to pay off politicians, middlemen, and businessmen, but both Eni and Shell have denied the claims.
Eni was also accused of corruption in Algeria, but was acquitted by a court in Milan last year.
