MESSAGE FROM GLOBAL WITNESS REGARDING SHELL/ENI OPL 245 CORRUPTION CASE

An online event this Friday

On Friday, Global Witness is hosting a virtual event, The Oil Heist of the Century: Journey around the world in search for truth and accountability, as part of the Skoll World Forum alongside our partners Olanrewaju Suraju the Chair of the Nigerian NGO Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) and Antonio Tricarico a Director of Italian NGO Re:Common.

The event will take place on Friday 3^rd April at 4pm BST, 5pm CET, 4pm WAT.

We will tell the story of infamous Shell and Eni corruption case that Global Witness and partners has been investigating and exposing for many years. It will take you on a journey around the world from an oil field in Nigeria via London and Abuja to a courthouse in Milan. read more

Radio 1 DJ Greg James was paid £100,000 by oil giant Shell to front an online campaign which plugged the company’s ‘green’ credentials.

The Breakfast Show presenter, who is paid £229,999 a year by the BBC, is the latest star to be accused of cashing in on their public profiles by moonlighting for corporate firms.

The 34-year-old, who broadcasts to around 5.6 million listeners each Monday to Thursday, fronted a five-part series for Shell called The Great Travel Hack.

The Top Gear-style programme followed two teams of competitors racing from London to Istanbul while using environmentally friendly vehicles. read more

Printed below is the main content of a Shell Energy letter dated 24 Feb 2020 to a distressed terrorised pensioner apologising for issues raised, including shortfalls in service, overcharging and bullyboy tactics.

Hello Mr XXXX

Ombudsman Final Decision dated 24 February 2020

We’ve set out below the list of remedies set by the Ombudsman and the status of each. If there’s any outstanding matters left to address. I’ve confirmed when you’ll expect your next update and/or resolution.

The Ombudsman decided that Shell Energy should:

• Provide you with a goodwill payment of £200 in recognition of the shortfalls in service you have experienced this will be credited to the account within 10 working days.
• Credit your account with £820.79 in recognition of overcharging you for 4399kWh of electricity rather than re-billing your account and re-applying SLC 21BA as proposed by Shell Energy. This has been completed by correcting the inial read on the account 61750.
• The remaining balance on the account after the £200 gesture of goodwill has been applied will be £1199.50

I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for the issues raised and the inconvenience it has caused. It is important to us that we provide a consistent and accurate service and to do this we continue to provide visibility and feedback to other departments regarding matters such as yours. read more

By Amos ABBA On Jan 29, 2020

AT the ongoing corruption trial of oil conglomerates, Shell & Eni in Milan, Italy the court listened to the testimony of Isaac Eke, a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police as he spoke about his role in the ongoing probe of the $1.1 billion Malabu oil scandal. 

At the hearing held at the Palace of Justice in Milan, Eke who was invited to the witness stand by defendant Vincenzo Armanna, past Eni manager, who became one of the main accusers of the current Eni Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Claudio Descalzi amongst other managers. read more

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By Vivienne Walt: October 11, 2019

Even for a company the size of JPMorgan Chase, it might to be hard to miss a sum of $1.1 billion zipping across a client’s account. That’s the argument currently winding its way through U.K. courts in London, where the government of Nigeria is suing the biggest U.S. bank, arguing that oil giants Royal Dutch Shell and the Italian company Eni paid that amount to allegedly corrupt Nigerian officials in 2011 for a license to drill in a hugely rich offshore oil block—and that JPMorgan ought to have blocked the deposits. read more

Although Shell and ENI initially claimed they did not know the money would end up with Mr Etete and his cronies, evidence has shown that claim to be false.

Oladeinde Olawoyin: July 18, 2019

A major witness in the long-running Malabu oil scandal on Wednesday told an Italian court that Eni officials knew that the controversial payment made in the deal would go to Malabu oil company, controlled by Nigeria’s former oil minister, Dan Etete.

Vincenzo Armanna, former Eni manager and defendant in the corruption trial, said in his testimony that it was clear to everyone involved in the deal that Mr Etete would get over $1 billion, adding that there was no doubt the money was going to Malabu. read more

The new claim, dated April 8 and signed by Jonathan Cary, was filed against 14 defendants, including Shell, Eni, Malabu and their respective subsidiaries. Shell and ENI initially claimed they did not know the money would end up with Mr Etete and his cronies, evidence has shown that claim to be false. After a joint investigation by Global Witness and Finance Uncovered, Shell later admitted it did know the money would go to Mr Etete.

Oladeinde Olawoyin: 6 MAY 2019

The Nigerian government is seeking about $3.5 billion in damages from oil giants Eni and Shell over the controversial Malabu oil deal, PREMIUM TIMES has gathered.

The new claim is contained in a London court filing by the Nigerian government against the two oil multinationals and other parties involved in the long-running case.

The court documents, obtained by this newspaper’s London partners, Finance Uncovered, and seen by PREMIUM TIMES, shows the government also alleged that the Malabu deal was “corrupt” and not done in the interest of Nigeria. read more

April 25, 2019: An analysis by oil consultancy firm, Resources for Development, says oil giants Shell/Eni’s deal for the controversial OPL 245 included “unprecedented terms” which funded an alleged bribery scheme.

The analysis was commissioned by four non-governmental groups — Global Witness, HEDA, Re:Common and The Corner House — based on publicly available documents.

This included Shell and Eni’s valuations of the oil block, according to a statement released by the NGOs on Thursday. read more

Mark Robinson

Last week, Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) revealed that it is facing charges in the Netherlands relating to corruption allegations surrounding a Nigerian oil bloc called OPL 245. Shell and Italian major ENI SpA (ENI.IM) acquired the licence in 2011 for around $1.3bn (£992m), but it’s alleged that a significant proportion of the monies was destined for use as kickbacks for politicians and officials, with former Nigerian oil minister Dan Etete – a convicted money launderer – acting as the principal intermediary. Although the funds were paid to the Nigerian government, it’s claimed that they found their way into the coffers of Malabu Oil and Gas — a company linked to Mr Etete. read more

Both companies are also in court in London, where the Nigerian government is suing for more than $1 billion in an attempt to reclaim the money it says belongs to the Nigerian people.

Published: Monday, 04 March 2019

Royal Dutch Shell is to be prosecuted in the Netherlands over alleged corruption in a US$1.3 billion Nigerian oil deal, a case already standing trial in Italy.

Shell announced on Friday that the Dutch Public Prosecutor’s Office is preparing to prosecute “for criminal charges directly or indirectly related” to the deal. read more

The investigation into corruption by Shell in Nigeria has not yet been completed, but according to the current investigation, according to the Public Prosecution Service, there are already prosecutable offences.

Printed below is an English translation of an article published today by the Dutch Financial Times, Financieele Dagblad.

Public Prosecution Service is taking Shell’s attention

Bert van Dijk and Vasco van der Boon

The Dutch State will prosecute Shell in two separate cases. The oil and gas multinational is under fire from the Public Prosecution Service (OM) because of possible bribery in Nigeria in 2011 and because of an explosion in June 2014 at Shell Moerdijk. The Public Prosecution Service has announced this on Friday.

Shell has already been summoned for the explosion in Moerdijk. Shell is also being taken to court for a leak of the toxic substance ethylene oxide.

Corruption in Nigeria

The investigation into corruption by Shell in Nigeria has not yet been completed, but according to the current investigation, according to the Public Prosecution Service, there are already prosecutable offences. read more

Justice invaded the Shell headquarters in The Hague three years ago. Last March, Shell itself filed a report against the Australian former director Peter Robinson, who may have been guilty of corruption in Nigeria. However, that case is about another oilfield.

English translation of an article published today in Dutch by nrc.nl

‘Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) starts a criminal case against Shell for bribery in Nigeria’

It is a $ 1.3 billion oil deal from 2011, according to Shell. Some of that money would have ended up with high officials.

Steven Musch: March 1, 2019 at 9:58

The Dutch Public Prosecution Service is going to prosecute oil company Shell for illegal activities in Nigeria, reports the oil company on its website.

The Public Prosecution confirms this but does not yet want to say whether and when a summons is issued.

The company has been informed by the judicial authorities that they are working on criminal prosecution and that the investigation has almost been completed. read more

In September 2017, four foreign NGOs filed a declaration in the Netherlands against Shell, Van Beurden and three (former) directors. According to lawyer Barbara van Straaten of the law firm Prakken d’Oliveira, this declaration was added to the current investigation by the Public Prosecution Service.: Almost a year ago, Shell itself filed a statement against former director Peter Robinson. According to the group, the Australian would have been guilty of corruption in Nigeria. Robinson is one of the four former Shell employees who stand trial in Milan. Justice in the US and stock market watchdog SEC were also informed.

English translation of a Dutch article published today by ncr.nl

The question is: did Shell know that the money ended up with the politicians?

Corruption The bulk of the purchase price for the Nigerian oil field OPL 245 ended up in the pockets of politicians. Justice thinks it has enough evidence to prosecute Shell.

Hester van SantenErik van der Walle: 1 March 2019 at 1:00

Shell is being prosecuted in the Netherlands because of possible corruption in Nigeria. The oil and gas company announced on Friday morning that it has been informed about this by the Public Prosecution Service (OM). According to a spokesperson for the Public Prosecution Service, “offences” have been committed and there is “enough to prosecute”. The spokesman states that the investigation has almost been completed. read more

…any settlement without a full and clear statement of facts and admission of guilt would be contrary to the interests of open justice.

By Wale Akinola: 20 JAN 2019

Four Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have written to the Minister of Justice of The Netherlands to warn against out-of-court settlement in the case instituted by The Netherlands government against Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDS) and Shell Petroleum over the acquisition of the OPC 245 oil and gas field in Nigeria. read more

The Premium Times report (below) on the MALABU SCANDAL mentions a Shell internal memo from Donny Ching that John Donovan recently supplied to Reuters, who confirmed its authenticity with Shell. 

MALABU SCANDAL: Shell, Eni officials’ trial continues as anti-corruption group head appears before court: Premium Times: 19 Oct 2018

National Gallery loses Shell funding after protests: The Times: 20 Oct 2018

Shell ends National Gallery sponsorship – to delight of campaigners: The Guardian: 19 Oct 2018

Shell Picks a Digital Platform to Build Its AI Future Upon: Journal of Petroleum Technology: 19 Oct 2018

Shell to invest up to $2 bln annually to explore, produce oil in Brazil through 2025 -report read more

Nigerian Emeka Obi and Italian Gianluca Di Nardo sentenced to four years in prison as judge orders seizure of more than $120m: …this judgment will send shivers down the corporate spines of the oil industry — and will surely alarm Shell and Eni employees and shareholders who have been repeatedly told that there was nothing amiss with the OPL 245 deal.

• Ben Chapman
• Friday 21 September 2018

Italian prosecutors allege that hundreds of millions of dollars from the 2011 sale of a field was distributed as bribes ( Reuters )

Two middlemen have each been sentenced to four years in prison for corruption offences in the first ruling of a huge bribery trial involving oil giants Shell and Eni. A judge also ordered the seizure of more than $120m from the pair.

Nigerian Emeka Obi and Italian Gianluca Di Nardo were convicted of international corruption by a Milan court for their role in a $1.1bn deal for rights to one of Nigeria’s most promising oil blocks. read more