Oil giants Shell and Eni face historic criminal charges over a tainted $1.1 billion deal struck for Nigerian oil block OPL 245 in 2011, Global Witness reported today. Former Nigerian Justice Minister Mohammed Adoke and former Oil Minister Dan Etete were also charged with official corruption for receiving over $800m from Shell and Eni. This is the first time that the two oil companies have been charged in Nigeria for their role in the deal. Fresh money laundering charges were also filed against former Justice Minister Mohammed Adoke. The EFCC alleged in court filings that Mr. Adoke received $2,267,400 on September 16, 2013, Adoke is alleged to have received these funds as payment for the negotiations he brokered between Shell, Eni and Dan Etete’s company for the OPL 245 oil block.

Source: GNN Liberia March 09, 2017 17:31 UTC