Two members of the United States Congress, Maxine Waters and Joyce Beatty, have urged the Department of Justice to reopen an investigation into oil giants, Shell and Eni, over allegations of corruption on a 2011 deal for lucrative Nigerian oil bloc, Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245.
New Telegraph learnt yesterday that their call was contained in a letter dated May 8, 2024 to Attorney General, Merrick Garland. The US lawmakers alleged that Shell and Eni violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by paying over $1.1 billion in bribes to Nigerian officials to secure the OPL 245 oil rights. According to them, the U.S.
law prohibits American firms from bribing foreign officials to benefit their business interests. The letter partly read: “Available evidence implicates both companies in a scheme that resulted in the payment of $1.1 billion in bribes to Nigerian government officials. “Shell and Eni, being registered with the SEC, “continue to profit from the deal in violation of the FCPA.
“Eni’s legal challenge, filed at the International Centre for Settlement of Investor Disputes (ICSID) and based upon the corruptly acquired prospecting license and related Resolution Agreement, as well as the use of the original contract in arbitration proceedings, constitutes further violation of the FCPA.
“The ICSID proceedings are currently suspended until May 23, 2024, with the agreement of the parties, suggesting that a settlement is being negotiated. Allegations have been made in the Nigerian press of further corruption relating to a settlement.
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