The US House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services has requested that the Department of Justice investigate allegations of bribery tied to the 2011 acquisition of Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245.
The lawmakers cited evidence pointing to Shell and Eni’s involvement in paying $1.1 billion in bribes to Nigerian officials, including former President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to the lawmakers: “Available evidence implicates both companies in a scheme that resulted in the payment of $1.1billion in bribes to Nigerian government officials, including then President Goodluck Jonathan. Shell and Eni, both registered with the US Security and Exchange Commission, continue to profit from the deal in violation of FCPA.”
The companies involved, both of which are registered with the US Security and Exchange Commission, are said to continue reaping profits from the deal under scrutiny. The committee insists that such actions, if true, represent a violation of the Foreign Corruption Practices Act (FCPA).
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Further developments in Nigeria include the acquittal of former Attorney-General Mohammed Adoke on money laundering charges by an Abuja Federal High Court, although the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s charges against co-defendant Aliyu Abubakar remain.
Although, The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, while delivering a ruling on a no-case submission filed by the former AGF, held that the EFCC failed to establish sufficient evidence against him.
The judge said, “I find that there is no evidence to prove the alleged offences against the first defendant (Adoke),”
This call for investigation aligns with the FCPA’s intent to combat and prevent corruption within business transactions involving US entities overseas.
The spotlight on this case reflects ongoing global efforts to uphold transparency and legal compliance in international business practices.
