In a significant legal development, an Italian court has sentenced Milan prosecutors Fabio De Pasquale and Sergio Spadaro to eight months in prison for failing to submit crucial documents that could have bolstered Eni’s defence in a high-profile corruption case.
The case involves a $1.3 billion acquisition of an oilfield in Nigeria, linked to allegations against Eni and Shell, and is considered one of the most significant corruption trials in the energy sector.
The court highlighted that the prosecutors neglected to present essential evidence, including a video from a former external lawyer for Eni, which could have been favourable to the company’s defence. This ruling underscores the ongoing scrutiny of legal practices in high-stakes corporate cases within the energy industry.
A Brescia court, which oversees judicial matters in Milan, recently issued an eight-month prison sentence to prosecutors Fabio De Pasquale and Sergio Spadaro.
This sentence aligns with the prosecutors’ request, which accused De Pasquale and Spadaro of withholding evidence that could have impacted the outcome of the Eni-Shell trial.
The court found that their actions infringed on the defendants’ rights in this high-profile corruption case involving a $1.3 billion oilfield acquisition in Nigeria.
In response to the charges, the lawyers for prosecutors De Pasquale and Spadaro sought a full acquittal, arguing that no explicit rule required prosecutors to file documents in such cases.
In March 2021, a Milan court acquitted Eni, Shell, and all other defendants, despite ongoing criticism of the prosecutors’ handling of the case.
The judges ruled that the prosecutors had a legal obligation to present evidence that could have benefited the defence.
Following the conviction, the lawyers did not provide immediate comments.
In 2020, the Nigerian government initiated legal action against Shell/SNUD and Eni, seeking $1.3 billion in compensation related to Oil Prospecting License 245 (OPL 245).
In response to the charges, the lawyers for prosecutors De Pasquale and Spadaro sought a full acquittal, arguing that no explicit rule required prosecutors to file documents in such cases.
In March 2021, a Milan court acquitted Eni, Shell, and all other defendants, despite ongoing criticism of the prosecutors’ handling of the case. The judges ruled that the prosecutors had a legal obligation to present evidence that could have benefited the defence. Following the conviction, the lawyers did not provide immediate comments.
In 2020, the Nigerian government initiated legal action against Shell/SNUD and Eni, seeking $1.3 billion in compensation related to Oil Prospecting License 245 (OPL 245).
The case, which had been ongoing for over a decade, came to an abrupt halt when Nigeria’s Ministry of Justice withdrew its petition in an Italian court in March 2024.
Meanwhile, an international court in Italy had already found Shell and its affiliated partners not guilty on all charges related to the case.
