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Milan prosecutors suspect
that a slice of the over one billion euros ENI allegedly paid in
bribes for an oil-field licence in Nigeria was used to buy
armoured cars and aircraft.
The suspicions are outlined in a warrant sent to a London
court to freeze around 80 million euros in an account - money
believed to be part of the bribes - a copy of which has been
seen by State broadcaster RAI's TG3 news show.
CEO Claudio Descalzi, his predecessor Paolo Scaroni and
another ENI executive are among several people being probed over
their role in the Italian group's 2011 acquisition, in
partnership with Shell, of the rights to a Nigerian oil field
known as Oil Prospecting License 245.
Prosecutors believe around $800 million of the $1.09
billion paid went to a shell company called Malabu, allegedly
linked to former Nigerian minister Dan Etete.
They suspect around $523 million of that money went to a
man close to Etete, while the rest went to companies and
individuals in many countries, with some being used for armoured
cars and aircraft.
Investigators believe that around $200 million now frozen
by Swiss and British authorities was destined for Italian
managers and intermediaries.
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