A Shell warning sign along Nembe creek in Nigeria’s oil state of Bayelsa. The company is mired in a $1.1-billion bribery scandal in the oil-rich country. Photo: Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters
Executives of petroleum giant Shell knew it was party to a vast bribery scheme that robbed Nigeria of $1.1-billion, according to corruption watchdog Global Witness — a claim that has been denied by Shell.
This week, Global Witness and Finance Uncovered said Shell executives knew that money earmarked for a controversial oil deal was being used to bribe senior Nigerian officials. They were referring to the 2011 purchase by oil giants Shell and Eni of OPL245, an offshore oil bloc estimated to hold nine billion barrels of crude, for $1.3-billion.
The deal saw the Nigerian government act as an intermediary between the oil majors and Malabu Oil and Gas, a Nigerian company allegedly controlled by former petroleum minister Dan Etete.
Allegations of corruption and bribery have mounted since the deal was signed, forcing Shell and Eni to maintain repeatedly that they acquired the rights to the lucrative bloc in line with Nigerian law.
But email exchanges between Shell management cited in the Global Witness report and seen by AFP suggest that Shell was aware that the OPL245 money was probably going to be funnelled to individuals, including Etete and then-president Goodluck Jonathan.
“Shell executives knew the money would go to Malabu and Etete, and was then likely to flow to some of the most powerful people in the country,” the Global Witness report said. Senior Shell officials were also briefed that funds could flow on to Jonathan.
The leaked emails come as Shell and Eni are facing intense scrutiny in connection with the deal. They are charged with corruption in Nigeria and are being investigated by Italian prosecutors.
“Etete can smell the money,” said one Shell executive in a 2010 email published in the Global Witness report. “I think he knows it’s his for the taking.”
In another email, a Shell adviser said: “The president [Jonathan] is motivated to see 245 closed quickly, driven by expectations about the proceeds that Malabu will receive and political contributions that will flow as a consequences.”
Nigeria’s anti-graft agency filed corruption charges against Shell and Eni in March, accusing 11 defendants, including Etete, of “official corruption” in connection with the oil block deal.
Jonathan has denied receiving kickbacks, saying in January that he has not been “accused, indicted or charged for corruptly collecting monies” linked to the deal.
This week Shell said it would not comment on specifics, “given this matter is currently under investigation. However, based on … all of the information and facts available to Shell, we do not believe that there is a basis to prosecute Shell. Furthermore, we are not aware of any evidence to support a case against any former or current Shell employee.”
If the evidence did prove improper payments, “it is Shell’s position that none of those payments were made with its knowledge, authorisation or on its behalf”, it said in its statement.
“Shell attaches the greatest importance to business integrity. It’s one of our core values,” it added.
Eni chief executive Claudio Descalzi told the Financial Times in February that his company “did not do anything wrong. At every stage, we have acted in compliance with all applicable law … Eni and Shell paid the government of Nigeria, and were not involved with the government decision on how to use such money.”
The OPL245 oil bloc has been a source of contention for almost two decades. In 1998, the bloc was awarded by then petroleum minister Etete to Malabu Oil and Gas.
Years of legal wrangling involving Malabu, the Nigerian government and Shell ensued, with Shell ultimately winning the rights to the block in a partnership with Eni.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to fight corruption in Nigeria’s oil sector. He campaigned on a platform to target rampant graft and has said “mind-boggling” sums have been stolen from the public purse.
His government has arrested several high-ranking officials from Jonathan’s administration on corruption charges but few have been convicted. — AFP