Italian oil major probed over alleged corruption in $1.1bn Nigeria deal

Italian oil and gas major Eni, the parent company of Nigeria Agip Oil Company, is being probed over suspected corruption linked to the acquisition of Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245 in Nigeria for over a billion dollars.

A Milan prosecutor is probing the role of Claudio Descalzi, Eni’s chief executive officer (CEO), his predecessor and another Eni executives over their role in the Italian group’s acquisition, in partnership with Shell, of the rights to OPL 245.

The prosecutors recently opened a probe into alleged corruption relating to the acquisition of the offshore oil block in 2011 by Eni and Shell. Last year, British police began investigating a money-laundering allegation in connection with the same field.

Eni has however denied that there was illegal conduct on the acquisition of

ENI boss investigated for corruption in Nigerian deal

The chief executive of the Italian oil and natural gas company ENI is under investigation over international corruption allegations.

Claudio Descalzi is facing questions about a large Nigerian oil deal.

The company said in a statement that "it is cooperating with the Milan prosecutor's office" and that it "continues to deny any illegal conduct".

Milan prosecutors open probe into Nigeria oil block deal, Eni says

Italian oil and gas group Eni said on Friday it had received notice that Milan prosecutors had opened a probe into its acquisition, together with Shell, of a big oil field in Nigeria.

“Eni declares the absolute properness of its handling of the dealings in question and assures its full cooperation with Italian prosecutors,” it said in an emailed statement.

The probe revolves around the purchase of