Shell's $1.1bn deal for Nigerian oil field funded alleged bribery scheme, report finds

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Shell’s controversial $1.1bn deal for a Nigerian oil licence included “unprecedented” terms which may have helped fund an alleged bribery scheme, according to new analysis. That money then allegedly went to former Nigerian oil minister Dan Etete and was “intended for payment to President Jonathan, members of the government, and other Nigerian public officials”, Italian prosecutors say. Nigeria is currently pursuing civil claims against Shell and Eni over the deal which they claim the companies “engaged in for ‘bribery and unlawful conspiracy’ to harm the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that they dishonestly assisted corrupt Nigerian government officials.” Attorney General Abubakar Malami reportedly suggested that Nigeria could reach a settlement with the companies with a deal including Nigeria re-acquiring a stake in OPL 245. President Buhari should reject any deal that leaves the OPL 245 oil license with these companies.” Nick Hildyard of The Corner House said: “Shell and Eni represented their OPL 245 contract as a production sharing system yet it includes no sharing of production for Nigeria.