On Thursday, an Italian appellate court upheld eight-month prison sentences for two prosecutors from Milan, citing their failure to submit key evidence that could have bolstered energy giant Eni’s defense in a high-profile international corruption case linked to Nigeria’s oil industry.
The case centers on the contentious $1.3 billion purchase of OPL 245, a significant Nigerian oilfield, by Eni and Shell approximately ten years ago.
This deal has been heavily investigated for allegations of bribery and corruption, marking it as one of the most significant scandals involving the energy sectors of both Nigeria and Europe.
Although the prosecutors neglected to present essential evidence, a Milan court acquitted all accused parties, including Eni and Shell, in March 2021.
According to Reuters, the Brescia court determined that prosecutors Fabio De Pasquale and Sergio Spadaro violated their duties by withholding a crucial video recorded by a former external lawyer for Eni, which the court deemed pertinent and potentially influential to the trial’s verdict.
At the hearing, prosecutor Sergio Spadaro defended his conduct, asserting that the omission was unintentional and aligned with legal and ethical standards.
The prosecutors’ attorney, Massimo Dinoia, announced plans to challenge the ruling before Italy’s highest judicial authority, the Court of Cassation.
The Brescia court, responsible for overseeing judicial conduct in Milan, emphasized that withholding evidence compromises the integrity of the judicial system and the right to a fair trial-issues that are particularly significant amid Nigeria’s ongoing crackdown on corruption within its oil and gas sector.
While the appeal process unfolds, De Pasquale and Spadaro will remain active in their prosecutorial positions.
This decision introduces additional complexity to a case that has drawn global scrutiny, underscoring the difficulties faced by judicial systems when handling cases intertwined with substantial economic stakes in Nigeria’s oil industry.
