The government of Switzerland has blocked several bank accounts
in the country linked to the planned bribery trial of Eni and Shell
executives in Milan, Italy, as it relates to the infamous Malabu
oil scam.
On Monday, the office of the Swiss Attorney-General confirmed
that at the request of public prosecutors from Milan, it has
confiscated, assets and shared information with Italian
authorities.
The trial of the executives, including former Eni’s Claudio
Descalzi, and his predecessor, Paolo Scaroni, was originally slated
for March but was moved to May after it was transferred to
Milan.
Nigerian and Italian investigators accuse officials of both Eni
and Shell of shady financial deals to secure a licence for the
lucrative OPL 245.
Three separate bank accounts in Lugano, Basel and Geneva were
blocked, according to media reports confirmed by prosecutors but
they declined to reveal the value fo the seized assets.
In all, apart from Messrs Descalzi and Scaroni, 11 other people
including two former top Shell managers, former Nigerian oil
minister, Dan Etete and a series of middlemen and advisers are
being probed.
Eni and Shell were also listed as corporate defendants in the
case. Both oil companies have denied wrongdoing and expressed
confidence that the trial would exonerate both the companies and
individuals.
Apart from Mr Etete, a former Attorney-General, Bello Adoke, are
amongst several Nigerians indicted in the deal, which was approved
by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, who also denies wrongdoing.
The government of Switzerland has blocked several bank accounts
in the country linked to the planned bribery trial of Eni and Shell
executives in Milan, Italy, as it relates to the infamous Malabu
oil scam.
On Monday, the office of the Swiss Attorney-General confirmed
that at the request of public prosecutors from Milan, it has
confiscated, assets and shared information with Italian
authorities.
The trial of the executives, including former Eni’s Claudio
Descalzi, and his predecessor, Paolo Scaroni, was originally slated
for March but was moved to May after it was transferred to
Milan.
Nigerian and Italian investigators accuse officials of both Eni
and Shell of shady financial deals to secure a licence for the
lucrative OPL 245.
Three separate bank accounts in Lugano, Basel and Geneva were
blocked, according to media reports confirmed by prosecutors but
they declined to reveal the value fo the seized assets.
In all, apart from Messrs Descalzi and Scaroni, 11 other people
including two former top Shell managers, former Nigerian oil
minister, Dan Etete and a series of middlemen and advisers are
being probed.
Eni and Shell were also listed as corporate defendants in the
case. Both oil companies have denied wrongdoing and expressed
confidence that the trial would exonerate both the companies and
individuals.
Apart from Mr Etete, a former Attorney-General, Bello Adoke, are
amongst several Nigerians indicted in the deal, which was approved
by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, who also denies wrongdoing.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/swiss-authorities-block-bank-accounts-linked-to-malabu-oil-scam/