Royal Dutch Shell Group .com Rotating Header Image

OPL 245

Leaked emails increase pressure on Shell over Nigerian oil deal

A trove of internal Shell emails seen by the Financial Times and dated between 2008 and 2010 leave no doubt that senior people within the company knew that most of the $1.3bn paid together with Eni for OPL 245 was destined for Malabu, and that much of the money would end up with Mr Etete and associates. Shell had previously said only that the money was paid to a Nigerian government escrow account.

In the intercepted phone call with Mr Henry, Mr van Beurden acknowledged Shell’s own investigation uncovered “unhelpful” and “stupid” email exchanges among former UK intelligence agents hired by the company to help negotiate the OPL 245 deal. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Recent Revelations About Shell And Nigeria Are “Utterly Indefensible”, Says Development Committee Chair

James Ball: BuzzFeed Special Correspondent: 10 March 2017 

The chair of parliament’s international development committee has called for the government to make clear what it is doing to investigate a $1.3 billion oil deal signed by Shell and Italian oil company ENI in Nigeria.

The call comes after BuzzFeed News and the Italian newspaper Il Sore 24 Ore published “Shell Shocks”, a cache of emails and court documents revealing that Shell top executives signed off on a deal with full knowledge that most of the money would go to Malabu, a company connected to a former Nigerian oil minister, Dan Etete. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Recorded call reveals Shell worried Nigerian oil deal could lead to U.S. probe

Top executives at Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A, RDS.B) last year were worried that a controversial Nigerian oil deal may have violated an agreement with the U.S. Justice Department and would prompt an investigation, according to a recorded phone call between CEO Ben van Beurden and Simon Henry, the company’s CFO at the time.

In the call, van Beurden said he was worried that Shell’s own investigators had discovered internal emails that could cast the company in a negative light and widen the investigation by drawing in U.S. authorities; the call was recorded and has now been made public. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell Knew Of Bribe Payments To Nigerian Official, Global Witness Report Alleges

A recent publication of leaked emails has found evidence that Shell knowingly bribed ministers in the Nigerian government. Global Witness, an anti-corruption NGO, described the episode as “one of the worst corruption scandals in the history of the oil industry”.

The affair relates to OLP 245, an offshore oilfield in Nigerian waters that is estimated to hold nine billion barrels of oil, valued at over half a trillion dollars at current prices. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell and the money-launderer: Damning emails of Nigerian deal

BY LUCY TOBIN: 10 April 2017

Shell was today embroiled in a bribery scandal amid allegations that the oil giant knew money paid to the Nigerian government for a $1.3 billion (£1.1 billion) project would go to a convicted money-launderer and potentially pay political bribes.

The claims surround a deal made by Shell and a former Nigerian oil minister Dan Etete, whose company Malabu bought the nine-billion-barrel OPL 245 field off the coast of the African country for a paltry $2 million while he was in his government post. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Recording Puts Shell’s Nigerian Oil Deal Under a Harsh Light

The investigators were “quite forceful and brusque” and “rattled a few people,” Mr. van Beurden told the finance chief at the time, Simon Henry, when Mr. Henry returned his call. But Mr. van Beurden said he was also worried about something else: Shell’s own investigators had discovered internal emails that could cast the company in an even more negative light and widen the investigation by drawing in the United States law enforcement authorities. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell corruption probe: New evidence on oil payments

The BBC has seen evidence that top executives at Shell knew money paid to the Nigerian government for a vast oil field would be passed to a convicted money-launderer.

It also had reason to believe that money would be used to pay political bribes.

The deal was concluded while Shell was operating under a probation order for a separate corruption case in Nigeria.

Shell said it did not believe its employees acted illegally.

OPL 245 is an oilfield off the coast of Nigeria whose estimated nine billion barrels of oil are worth nearly half a trillion dollars at today’s prices. Shell has been active in Nigeria for nearly 60 years and was keen to acquire the field. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

What Shell CEO Told Colleague About $1.3 Billion OPL 245 Scandal

What Shell CEO Told Colleague About $1.3 Billion OPL 245 Scandal

Mr. Van Beurden is heard on the intercept warning Henry not to volunteer any information that is not requested if approached by the police and discussing the ramifications for the company’s share price.

By Lionel Faull, Ted Jeory and Nick Mathiason

The boss of one of the world’s biggest corporations was placed under secret surveillance as part of a pan-European corruption investigation into the way the firm paid $1.3 billion for an oil block in Nigeria, explosive documents leaked to Finance Uncovered reveal.

The leak includes a recording of a wiretapped telephone conversation between Shell’s chief executive, Ben van Beurden, and his then chief financial officer, Simon Henry, in the immediate aftermath of a raid by Dutch financial police on the corporation’s headquarters in The Hague. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigeria: Malabu Scandal – Jonathan Must Have Gotten $200 Million, Middleman Tells FBI, Others

Nigeria: Malabu Scandal – Jonathan Must Have Gotten $200 Million, Middleman Tells FBI, Others

Former President Goodluck Jonathan probably received as much as $200 million to approve the controversial $1.3 billion sale of OPL 245 oil field, Italian prosecutors said in court documents.

The documents, which were extracts of a thorough investigation by Italian authorities into the deal, also confirmed that Shell and ENI knew a good chunk of the $1.3 billion will be disbursed as kickbacks to Nigerian politicians, yet went ahead with the deal.

The findings were obtained by BuzzFeed and Italian business newspaper, Il Sole 24 Ore. BuzzFeed released its own version earlier today. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The expanding Malabu quagmire

Adekunle Ade- Adeleye: March 19, 2017

IT will get to a point where OPL 245, the lucrative oil block with multiple, feuding owners, will not even recognise itself, not to talk of its owners. The block, believed to contain more than nine billion barrels of crude oil and much more natural gas, has an illustrious and convoluted history that began controversially in 1998 when the Gen Sani Abacha government awarded it to Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd, a company in which an Abacha son, a diplomat, and oil minister at the time, Dan Etete, had interests. In 2002, it was revoked by the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency and awarded to Shell, thereby prompting Malabu to sue the government and the new owners. To settle out of court, the oil block was again revoked and given back to Malabu in 2006. Naturally Shell also went to court, and in 2011 the block reverted to Shell which paid $1.3bn to the Nigerian government, $1.1bn of which was transferred to Malabu. Dizzying, complex back and forth, and labyrinthine. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigerian court overturns seizure of oilfield from Shell and Eni

Nigerian court overturns seizure of oilfield from Shell and Eni

By ReutersPUBLISHED: 09:48, 17 March 2017 | UPDATED: 10:18, 17 March 2017

ABUJA, March 17 (Reuters) – A Nigerian court on Friday overturned a request by Nigeria’s financial crimes agency to seize an oilfield from Royal Dutch Shell and Eni.

In January, a court had ordered the seizure of the OPL 245 oil block and transfer of operations to the federal government on the request of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Oil companies Shell and Eni had filed motions to dispute this. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigerian court adjourns Shell, ENI dispute until March 17

By Camillus Eboh

ABUJA, March 13 (Reuters) – A Nigerian court case in which Royal Dutch Shell and Italy’s Eni are seeking to have a government seizure of a long-disputed oilfield lifted has been adjourned until March 17, a judge said on Monday.

The court in January ordered the temporary seizing of assets and the transfer of operations of the OPL 245 field owned by Shell and Eni, among others, to the federal government on request of the EFCC financial crime agency.

The inquiry is investigating whether the $1.3 billion purchase of OPL 245 involved “acts of conspiracy, bribery, official corruption and money laundering”, court papers seen by Reuters in January showed. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Malabu Scandal: How Shell used former British spies to gather intelligence while negotiating purchase of OPL 245

Nicholas Ibekwe and Idris Akinbajo: 5 March 2017

Multinational oil giant, Shell, set up an Intelligence network made up of some of Europe’s top spies which gathered information on some of the top actors involved in the infamous Malabu oil scam during the negotiations leading to payment of $1.1 billion for OPL 245, an investigation by UK-based Finance Uncovered has revealed.

The network made up of former members of UK’s MI6 spy agency, including Guy Colegate and John Copleston, gathered information which they circulated within Shell. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell and Eni face corruption charges over Nigerian deal

The companies are accused of a paying a Nigerian politician $801 million for a block that he was awarded for a token sum: DAVID BEBBER/THE TIMES

Emily Gosden, Energy Editor: March 4, 2017

Royal Dutch Shell and Eni have been charged with corruption over their $1.3 billion acquisition of a huge oil exploration block off the coast of Nigeria.

Prosecutors in the west African country allege that the companies corruptly gave $801 million to individuals including Dan Etete, a former Nigerian energy minister, and Malabu, a company linked to Mr Etete, to which he had awarded the block for a token sum while he was minister. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigeria charges oil majors Shell, Eni with corruption

By AFPPUBLISHED: 22:33, 2 March 2017 

Nigeria’s anti-graft agency on Thursday filed corruption charges against oil majors Shell and Eni over a $1.3 billion offshore block deal.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused 11 defendants of “official corruption”, according to court documents.

Shell, Eni and Agip, Eni’s Nigerian subsidiary, are alleged to have corruptly given the “aggregate sum of $801 million” to Nigerian businessmen and politicians.

This is the latest probe into the controversial 2011 oil deal that highlights endemic corruption within the sector. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Malabu: Why EFCC filed corruption charges against Shell, Eni, Adoke, others

Malabu: Why EFCC filed corruption charges against Shell, Eni, Adoke, others

Evelyn Okakwu: March 03, 2017

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday filed a three-count charge against two multinational oil firms, Shell and ENI, for their roles in the $1.1 billion Malabu oil scam.

The EFCC had in December filed related charges against two former Nigerian ministers, Mohammed Adoke and Dan Etete, and others after concluding investigations on the 2011 controversial‎ sale of OPL 245.

The alleged fraud committed by the ex-Nigerian officials and officials of the oil firms, has also led to investigations and charges in Italy. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigeria files new charges against Shell, Eni, others over 2011 oilfield purchase – court documents

Nigeria’s financial crime watchdog has filed new corruption charges against Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Eni SpA and others regarding the $1.3 billion purchase of a long-disputed oilfield in 2011, according to court documents released on Thursday.

The charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and official corruption were made after an investigation by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) found new evidence, Jonson Ojogbane, an EFCC senior prosecutor named in the documents, told Reuters by telephone.

Shell and Eni did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The case is the latest of several inquiries, following those by Dutch and Italian authorities, into the 2011 purchase of Nigerian oil prospecting licence OPL 245 block, which could hold up to 9.23 billion barrels of oil, according to industry figures. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigerian court to rule on March 13 on Shell, ENI dispute with authorities

“acts of conspiracy, bribery, official corruption and money laundering.”

By Camillus Eboh | ABUJA

Feb 27 A Nigerian court will rule on March 13 on a request by Royal Dutch Shell and Italy’s Eni to lift the temporary seizing of a long-disputed oilfield, a judge said on Monday.

The court last month ordered the temporary seizing of assets and the transfer of operations of the OPL 245 field owned by Shell and Eni, among others, to the federal government on request of the country’s financial crime agency EFCC.

The case is the latest of several inquiries, following those by Dutch and Italian authorities, into the 2011 purchase of the OPL 245 block, which could hold up to 9.23 billion barrels of oil, according to industry figures. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell says receives indictment request in Nigeria oilfield dispute

Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) said it received notice on Tuesday of a request for indictment related to a 2011 settlement of long-standing disputes over an offshore block in Nigeria (OPL 245) .

The tribunal of Milan has fixed the preliminary hearing for 20 April 2017, the company said in a statement. “We don’t believe a request for indictment is justified and we are confident that this will be determined in the next stages of the proceedings. We continue to take this matter seriously and co-operate with the authorities,” Shell added. Shell and Eni on Tuesday said they have asked a Nigerian court to lift a temporary forfeiture of assets and the transfer of operations of the OPL 245 field owned by Shell and Italy’s Eni (ENI.MI), among others, to the federal government. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell and ENI ask Nigerian court to lift forfeiture on oilfield: documents

Reuters: Shell and ENI ask Nigerian court to lift forfeiture on oilfield: documents

By Camillus Eboh

ABUJA, Feb 14 (Reuters) – Oil majors Royal Dutch Shell (LSE: 0LN9.Lnews) and ENI (LSE: 0N9S.Lnews) have asked a Nigerian court to lift a temporary forfeiture of a long-disputed oilfield, a copy of the court documents filed by the two firms showed on Tuesday.

Last month, a Nigerian court ordered the temporary forfeiture of assets and the transfer of operations of the OPL 245 field owned by Shell (LSE: RDSB.Lnews) and Eni, among others, to the federal government. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigeria: Malabu $1.1 Billion Fraud – Shell, Eni Want Nigeria’s Richest Oil Block Back

Premium Times: Nigeria: Malabu $1.1 Billion Fraud – Shell, Eni Want Nigeria’s Richest Oil Block Back

Although Shell and ENI have repeatedly claimed they did not know the money was going to end up with Malabu, investigations in Nigeria and Italy as well as leaked documents revealed that claim to be false.

14 February 2017

By Evelyn Okakwu

Two multinational oil firms have challenged the propriety of the Nigerian government withdrawing a major oil block from them.

Shell and Eni, through their Nigerian subsidiaries, asked a Federal High Court to reverse an order that revoked the award of OPL 245 to them.

Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court had on January 26 granted an interim order directing the return of the block – Nigeria’s richest, estimated to contain over 9 billion barrels of crude – to the Nigerian government, read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

OPL 245: Shell, Agip ask court to dismiss forfeiture order

14 FEB 2017

Abuja – Shell Nigeria Exploration and Nigeria Agip Exploration have asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to discharge the order of forfeiture of OPL 245 which it granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice John Tsoho on Jan. 26, granted an order of interim forfeiture of Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL 245) to the Federal Government pending investigation and prosecution of suspects in the $1.1 billion Malabu Oil scam.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Johnson Ojogbane, informed the court that he was unable to respond to the two applications filed by the the applicants on the matter. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell, Eni hit with Nigerian oil deal corruption charges

Shell, Eni hit with Nigerian oil deal corruption charges

Joe Sandler Clarke / Energydesk: 13th February 2017

Weeks after a major legal victory in London’s High Court over oil-polluted communities in Nigeria, writes Joe Sandler Clarke, Shell has suffered a dramatic reversal of fortunes as Italian prosecutors charge the company, and Italy’s Eni, on corruption charges over a $1.3 billion oil deal.

Italian prosecutors have charged oil giants Shell and Eni with international corruption offences, as the companies struggle with the fallout from their controversial 2011 purchase of an oil licence in Nigeria. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Italy prosecutors ask Eni CEO to be sent to trial over Nigeria – sources

REUTERS: Italy prosecutors ask Eni CEO to be sent to trial over Nigeria – sources

Wed Feb 8, 2017 | 6:36pm GMT

Italian prosecutors have asked for the CEO of state-controlled oil major Eni (ENI.MI), Claudio Descalzi, to stand trial over alleged corruption in Nigeria, judicial sources said on Wednesday.

The prosecutors also asked for 10 other people, including former Eni CEO Paolo Scaroni, to be sent for trial along with the Eni and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) companies, the sources said.

Scaroni was not immediately available for comment. No comment was immediately available from Shell. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Corruption Currents: Nigeria to Charge Shell, Eni in Oil-Graft Scandal

By SAMUEL RUBENFELD: Jan 30, 2017 5:41 pm ET

Bribery:

Nigeria seized an oil block and will prosecute petroleum giants Royal Dutch Shell PLC and Eni in a $1.2 billion corruption scandal that has drawn investigators from several countries. Shell declined to comment, and Eni denied wrongdoing. (AP)

SOURCE

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigeria Seizes $1.2 Billion Oil Bloc in Shell, Eni Scandal

Nigeria Seizes $1.2 Billion Oil Bloc in Shell, Eni Scandal

By MICHELLE FAUL, ASSOCIATED PRESS

JOHANNESBURG — Jan 27, 2017, 7:31 AM ET

Nigeria is seizing back one of Africa’s richest oil blocs and will prosecute petroleum giants Shell and Eni in a $1.2 billion corruption scandal that has drawn investigators from the United States, Italy, France, Switzerland and Holland, according to a Nigerian Federal High Court document.

The court on Thursday ceded control of Oil Prospecting License 245 to the government while the West African country’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission investigates and prosecutes suspects in the “Malabu Oil scam,” according to a statement from the commission. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigeria Tells Shell, Eni to Temporarily Cede Oil Field Control

by Yinka Ibukun and Elisha Bala-Gbogbo: 27 January 2017

A Nigerian court has ordered Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Eni SpA to cede control of a jointly owned oil license to the government amid an investigation into how they purchased the asset.

The companies’ control of Oil Prospecting License 245 is suspended pending “investigation and prosecution of suspects” including companies and individuals accused of possible “acts of conspiracy, bribery, official corruption and money laundering,” according to documents from the Federal High Court in Abuja. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Malabu fraud: Why Nigerian Government retrieved OPL 245 from Shell, Eni

Malabu fraud: Why Nigerian Government retrieved OPL 245 from Shell, Eni

January 27, 2017Idris Akinbajo

Nineteen years after it was first awarded to a controversial firm, OPL 245 has reverted back to the federal government.

The block, considered the richest in Africa, is estimated to contain over 9 billion barrels of crude and even larger volume of gas reserves.

For comparison, at Nigeria’s current OPEC oil output quota of 2.2 million barrels per day, OPL 245 alone can provide all Nigeria’s oil production needs for over 11 years.

Formed on April 20, 1998, Malabu was awarded the block 9 days later by the Sani Abacha government, PREMIUM TIMES investigations revealed. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

‘How Etete, Adoke, Shell defrauded Nigeria through Malabu oil deal’

Posted By: Eric Ikhilae, Abuja: January 27, 2017

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) gave details yesterday of how some highly placed Nigerians, including ex-ministers and multinational oil companies allegedly defrauded the country of billions of dollars through the now notorious Malabu oil deal.

The commission also revealed how former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Mohammed Adoke allegedly aided the payment of $1.2b bribe to ex-Petroleum Resources Minister Dan Etete, using his position in the President Goodluck Jonathan. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigeria court orders temporary transfer of Shell, Eni oilfield

Fri Jan 27, 2017 7:18am GMT

ABUJA (Reuters) – A Nigerian court has ordered the temporary forfeiture of assets and the transfer of operations of a long-disputed oilfield owned by Shell and Eni, among others, to the federal government, court papers released on Thursday showed.

The court orders will last until Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency concludes an investigation into how the current owners acquired oil prospecting licence (OPL) 245, the papers said.

This is the latest of many inquiries, including by Dutch and Italian authorities, into the 2011 purchase of the OPL 245 block which could hold up to 9.23 billion barrels of oil, according to industry figures. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigeria’s Jonathan named in Italian ‘kickback’ probe

By AFPPUBLISHED: 17:39, 9 January 2017

Italian prosecutors have alleged that Nigeria’s former president Goodluck Jonathan and his oil minister received kickbacks as part of a $1.3 billion deal involving oil giants ENI and Shell.

Court documents filed late last month in the city of Milan and seen by AFP outline a case against 11 people, including senior executives from the two oil majors and the companies themselves.

Jonathan, who left office in May 2015, and Diezani Alison-Madueke, his long-time petroleum minister who was also the first woman president of OPEC, do not feature on the list. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Former Nigerian President Jonathan allegedly involved in $1.3 billion OPL 245 oil fraud

Author: Adeola Opeyemi: 6 Jan 2017

– An indictment released by Italian prosecutors has linked former President Goodluck Jonathan to the Malabu oil scam

– Others named in the reports include Diezani Alison Madueke, Mohammed Adoke, Aliyu Gusau and Bayo Ojo

– The report alleged that Goodluck Jonathan and others mentioned shared in the $1.3b fraudulent oil deal

An investigative report by Italian prosecutors has alleged that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, former minister of petroleum Diezani Alison-Madueke, former Attorney Generals Mohammed Adoke and Bayo Ojo, former Minister of Defense and ex-National Security Adviser, Aliyu Gusau as well as numerous other senior government officials shared hundreds of millions of dollars. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

OPL 245: Shell and Eni executives set to be arraigned

OPL 245: Shell and Eni executives set to be arraigned

READ ARTICLE HERE

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Malabu $1.1 billion Scandal: You must prosecute Shell, Eni too, indicted Etete tells Nigerian govt

Samuel Ogundipe: December 29, 2016

Dan Etete, a former Minister of Petroleum caught at the heart of the $1.1 billion Malabu Oil scandal, has accused the Nigerian government of leaving out Shell and Agip in the criminal charges it filed last week.

Mr. Etete said the government erred in pursuing the case against him and others while conspicuously sparing Shell, Total and Agip/Eni even though the three firms “were parties to all the agreements” reached in the OPL 245 oil deal, THISDAY reported on Wednesday, citing a text message exchange it had with Mr. Etete. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

ENI AND SHELL TO BE PROSECUTED OVER OPL 245 $1.1 BILLION CORRUPTION SCANDAL

A translation of a 12-page final report by Italian prosecutors reveals that following an extensive investigation, they intend to prosecute ENI and their apparent accomplice Shell for their roles in the OPL 245 $1.1 billion corruption scandal.

READ ARTICLE HERE

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell faces corruption charge threat

Marcus Leroux: December 23, 2016

Royal Dutch Shell faces possible corruption charges over the purchase of a Nigerian oil block.

The world’s second-largest private oil producer, and Eni, the Italian major, are being investigated over their 2011 purchase of an offshore block in Nigeria for $1.3 billion. Milan’s public prosecutor has wrapped up its investigation and Corriere della Sera newspaper reported that it intends to press charges.

The deal attracted criticism because only $210 million ended up in state coffers, with the rest going to Dan Etete, a former energy minister, and his associates. On Tuesday Mr Etete and two others were charged with money laundering in Nigeria in connection with the deal. Mr Etete could not be reached but has maintained his innocence previously. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Italy prosecutors wrap up probe involving Eni CEO over Nigeria – sources

Italian prosecutors have wrapped up a probe into the head of Italian oil major Eni (ENI.MI) and others over alleged corruption in Nigeria, legal and judicial sources said on Thursday.

The probe involves a total of 11 people, including Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi and former CEO Paolo Scaroni, as well as Eni itself and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L).

It was not immediately possible to reach those involved for comments.

Under Italian law those under investigation have three weeks to show why they should not be charged. Prosecutors gave no indication they intended to drop the case. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigerian lawsuit revives billion-dollar oil scandal

Nigerian lawsuit revives billion-dollar oil scandal

By Associated Press21 December 2016

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency is reviving a five-year-old scandal involving one of Africa’s richest oil blocs, in which a former petroleum minister and his allies allegedly made $1.1 billion dollars and the state oil company $210 million.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission filed suit Tuesday in the federal high court charging former petroleum minister Dan Etete, former justice minister Mohammed Bello Adoke and businessman Aliyu Abubakar with fraud and money laundering of hundreds of millions of dollars in the sale of the bloc. The money came from a Nigerian escrow account at the London branch of JPMorgan Chase, according to the court document. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigeria opens inquiry into disputed oil field

by Mary MorleyWednesday, 14 Dec 2016, 15:08 GMT

Nigeria has opened an investigation into an offshore oil field owned by Royal Dutch Shell (LON:RDSA) and Italy’s Eni, Reuters has reported. The move comes after Dutch and Italian investigators launched their own inquiries into the oil block.

Shell’s share price has been steady in today’s session, having inched 0.26 percent higher to 2,138.50p as of 14:28 GMT. The stock is outperforming the broader London market, with the benchmark FTSE 100 index having slipped marginally into the red and currently standing 0.14 percent worse off at 6,958.93 points. The group’s shares have gained more than 40 percent over the past year, as compared with about an 11.5-percent rise in the Footsie. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigerian parliament opens inquiry into long-disputed Shell, Eni oil field

Nigeria’s lower house opened an investigation on Tuesday into an offshore oil field owned by Royal Dutch Shell and Eni, the latest inquiry into their acquisition of the OPL 245 license block which could hold up to 9.23 billion barrels of oil, according to industry figures.

Earlier this year the Dutch and Italian authorities launched their own investigations.

The acquisition in 2011 was a “breach of due process that resulted in monumental revenue loss to the country,” said Yakubu Dogara, speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Malabu malady

screen-shot-2016-10-24-at-12-51-10

Extracts from “screen-shot-2016-10-24-at-13-41-15Malabu malady”

October 24, 2016

Dan Etete was the miserable fellow who as Minister of Petroleum Resources under the late junta Gen. Sani Abacha in 1998 awarded this massive oil block to his firm, Malabu Oil and Gas. But he was not alone, he had numerous other cronies, including Abacha’s son.

Shell Petroleum Development Company is the conniver-in-chief and perhaps the lead player in this graft theatre.

Today, a committee of the House of Representatives is reviewing the Malabu malfeasance. But Mr. Abubakar Malami, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, says the matter is too complex if not confusing for his office to understand. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Nigeria: U.S.$1.1 Billion Malabu Oil Deal – Investigations Are Ongoing, Says AGF

screen-shot-2016-10-24-at-14-04-58

screen-shot-2016-10-24-at-13-41-15screen-shot-2016-10-24-at-14-01-15

By Damilola Oyedele: 14 October 2016

Abuja — The Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, has said investigations are still ongoing into the controversial $1.1 billion award of Oil Prospecting Licence 245, also know as the Malabu oil deal, with no conclusive position by the federal government.

Malami said this yesterday when he appeared before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee mandated to re-open investigations into the sale of the controversial oil block, where he added that the government would not take a position until all complexities in the deal are resolved. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

In merry-go-round, Nigerian parliament commences fresh inquiry into Malabu oil deal

screen-shot-2016-10-06-at-13-15-09

October 6, 2016Samuel Ogundipe

Members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives panel investigating the controversial Malabu oil deal on Wednesday expressed strong reservations about the attitude of firms caught in the scandal.

The House in January 2016 set up another ad-hoc committee to look into allegations of financial crimes in the lease of OPL 245 oil block in Nigerian waters.

A former Minister of Petroleum, Dan Etete, awarded the lease of OPL 245 in April 1998 to Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd., a firm later traced to him. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

OPL 245: Murky saga of an ex-minister and ‘siphoned-off’ oil millions

screen-shot-2016-09-11-at-07-44-30

screen-shot-2016-09-11-at-07-38-09

screen-shot-2016-09-11-at-08-02-32

Even by Nigerian standards, the alleged siphoning off of $1 billion (£750 million) from a $1.3 billion international investment in a lucrative oil block through “fees” to a former oil minister’s company and assorted middlemen has been shocking. 

Jonathan Fisher QC called it “grand corruption”. High Court Judge Mr Justice Edis declared: “Given the large sums of money involved that are effectively paid to a former minister to a bank account in the Middle East, the whole exercise is backed by murky instructions.” read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Malabu Oil Deal: New facts implicate more Nigerians

Screen Shot 2016-09-02 at 13.30.06

As part of their investigation, the Italian prosecutors in May 2014 asked the UK’s CPS to freeze $85m in assets related to a Nigerian company, Malabu Oil & Gas, that prosecutors say was involved in the sale, according to a copy of the official request sent by the Milan investigators and seen by Reuters.

In the letter, the Italian prosecutors alleged that Scaroni and Descalzi oversaw the payments to parties who helped secure the sale. In a second letter they alleged that some of the ultimate recipients of alleged bribes used the money to buy aircraft and armoured cars. “We are investigating many money transfers to many people in various countries who received sums that vary from millions of dollars to thousands of dollars,” the prosecutors said in the follow-up letter. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Former Head of State, ex Senate President named in Malabu oil deal scam

Screen Shot 2016-09-02 at 13.16.27

Screen Shot 2016-09-02 at 13.15.27

Screen Shot 2016-09-02 at 13.19.1129 August 2016

Abuja – A former Head of State, a former Senate President, a former National Security Adviser (NSA), some senators, and some serving and former members of the House of Representatives have been named as beneficiaries of the $1.092b Malabu oil deal, Nation reports.

The names of the beneficiaries was revealed by a businessman, who is being grilled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) over the deal.

Besides the businessman, the EFCC has grilled a former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Finance, and some chief executives of some International Oil Companies (IOCs). The suspects remain unnamed because of what a source described as the “sensitivity” of the matter. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

JOHN DONOVAN SAR APPLICATION LETTER TO SHELL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998

Screen Shot 2016-07-20 at 10.19.07

LINK TO ARTICLE

Screen Shot 2016-07-20 at 10.23.39JOHN DONOVAN SAR APPLICATION LETTER TO SHELL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998

19 July 2016

Mr. Gary Thomson SI-LSC/K
Shell International Limited
40 Bank Street
London E14 5NR

Dear Mr Thomson

Data Protection Act 1998 – Subject Access Request (SAR)

Thank you for your email dated 19 July 2016.

Please find enclosed completed application forms together with a postal order for £10 made out to Royal Dutch Shell Plc.

I obtained it before finding out that the fee can now instead be paid to a charity.

As you are aware, I operate royaldutchshellplc.com – a website focussed on the activities of Shell. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Malabu Oil deal: EFCC quizzes SNEPCO boss over $1.092b settlement cash

Screen Shot 2016-04-20 at 07.41.41

20 April 2016

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC) has quizzed the Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCO), Mr. Bayo Bashir Ojulari over the controversial  Malabu oil block (OPL 245) deal.

The anti-graft agency is specifically seeking the whereabouts of $1,092 billion paid by SNEPCO and Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited (NAE) into an escrow account.

It was learnt that investigators were trying to determine last night whether the cash had been used  for the settlement of the dispute on the oil block or diverted elsewhere. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Musings about the OPL 245 Shell/ENI corruption scandal and the sinking confidence in Prelude

Screen Shot 2016-04-13 at 20.14.48

I would have thought that Simon Henry’s position as CFO should now be untenable, in view of the apparent lack of effective financial governance in Nigeria while he was CFO. 

By John Donovan

A large number of press articles have appeared recently mentioning Ben van Beurden. 

Since these articles are presumably fed to the press by Shell’s PR team, and Shell is not a one-man company, I checked to see whether other Shell directors have appeared recently in press releases.

The results are somewhat curious. For example, searching for Matthias Bichsel on Google News shows that articles were published about him at least weekly until October last year, but the articles then stopped abruptly. References to Simon Henry seem to have dried up a few weeks ago – until mid-March there were articles on Henry on an almost daily basis, but recently there has been nothing. Harry Brekelmans seems to have had a low profile since his appointment, so it is harder to see whether any change has occurred. Andy Brown has almost as many press articles as Ben van Beurden.  read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Siemens, Mossack Fonseca and Shell

Screen Shot 2016-04-11 at 13.12.00

By John Donovan

It’s interesting to note that there seem to be parallels between Siemens (mired in the Panama Papers scandal) and Shell.

A few years ago, Siemens was prosecuted for bribery, and some of their senior employees were jailed. It was suspected that some of the funds provided by Siemens for the bribes were kept by the Siemens executives involved, but lack of evidence prevented the executives involved from being prosecuted. 

The amounts involved in the Siemens cases were tiny in comparison with Shell’s OPL 245 payments, but were funnelled through Mossack Fonseca.  read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.