Nigeria has shown a committed interest in withdrawing civil claims totaling $1.1 billion against Italian energy group Eni as related to allegations of corruption in dealing with oil well licensing in the country, Bloomberg News reported recently. According to the report as obtained from our source, Nigeria justice ministry is expected to waive the claims before Italy’s highest court “unconditionally” and “with immediate effect” no later than Nov. 17, citing a letter regarding the OPL 245 field and seen by the newswire.

Eni has seen the milestone decision by Nigeria as welcome development will invariably foster the long existing business relationship in the country’s energy sector that has expanded over six decades.  Responding to a request for comment, an Eni spokesperson confirmed that the group had received the letter regarding OPL 245, and said it was pleased about the Nigerian government’s decision.

“It is alleged that purchase monies purportedly paid to the Federal Republic of Nigeria were in fact immediately paid through to a company ( Malabu) controlled by Dan Etete, formerly the Nigerian minister of petroleum, and used for, amongst other things, bribes and kickbacks,” Nigeria said on Thursday.

“Accordingly, it is alleged that Shell and Eni engaged in bribery and unlawful conspiracy to harm the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that they dishonestly assisted corrupt Nigerian government officials.”

The decision of Nigeria to relinquish the legal suit might be unconnected to the country’s unrelenting pursuit to increase its crude oil production output through undeveloped oilfields in meeting up its refining feed stock. The Eni group said it was ready to consider – together with the government of Nigeria – the necessary steps for achieving the conversion of the licence from prospecting into mining, to ensure development perspectives for the field.

In 2021 a Milan court acquitted Eni, its chief executive and Shell over corruption case revolving around the acquisition of the Nigerian oilfield. Nigeria has already filed a London case against US bank JPMorgan for its role in transferring over $800 million of government funds to Etete, who has been convicted of money laundering.

In another separate trial, a Milan court in September found a middleman guilty of corruption after prosecutors alleged he had received a mandate from Etete, who has denied any wrongdoing, to find a buyer for OPL 245, collecting $114 million for his services.