Italian court postpones Malabu trial till 14th of May

An Italian court has postponed to May 14 the trial of Royal Dutch Shell and Eni executives over alleged corruption in Nigeria.  Naija News learnt

The trial was originally expected to start in a Milan court today but the judge said due to a high number of cases, it would be transferred to another chamber to avoid further delays. Naija News  also gathered that the trial will now begin on May 14.

The case involves the 2011 purchase by Eni and Shell of Nigeria’s OPL-245 offshore oilfield – one of Africa’s most valuable oil blocks – for about $1.3 billion.

Eni — also charged with corruption in Algeria in a separate trial — and Shell stand accused of handing out bribes during the 2011 purchase of OPL245, an offshore oil block estimated to hold nine billion barrels of crude, for $1.3 billion (1.06 billion euros).

Prosecutors said bribes were paid to win the licence to explore the field, which has never entered into production.