Lagos – An Appeal Court in Milan, Italy, has dropped criminal proceedings in a Nigeria corruption case, finalising the acquittal of multi-naational oil companies Eni and Shell, as well as managers including Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi.
The court acknowledged the dropping of the proceedings on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
General prosecutor Celestina Gravina, in an unprecedented move in a Milan court, had filed a waiver request at the start of the appeal trial earlier on Tuesday, saying the case had no grounds.
The Tribunal Prosecutor’s Office, which is a separate body, and the Nigerian government had previously sought to appeal a March 2021 ruling acquitting the two companies and defendants.
Reuters reports that the appeal will now only continue for the civil proceedings, as Nigeria has sued for compensation.
Follow us on twitter
