Italy's top court exonerates Milan prosecutors in Eni Nigeria case

• The prosecutors, Fabio De Pasquale and Sergio Spadaro, were accused of failing to file documents, including a video from a former Eni lawyer, during the corruption trial
• Eni and Shell had already been acquitted in March 2021 in what was described as the industry's largest corruption case involving a Nigerian oilfield acquisition over a decade ago
• The prosecution investigation began five years ago, with a Brescia court initially upholding an eight-month prison sentence before the Court of Cassation overturned it completely

Summary: Italy's Top Court Acquits Milan Prosecutors in Eni Nigeria Corruption Case

Italy's Court of Cassation, the country's highest court, fully acquitted two Milan prosecutors on Thursday who were accused of withholding documents in a major international corruption case involving energy company Eni and Shell.

Key Facts

Prosecutors Fabio De Pasquale and Sergio Spadaro were cleared of charges that they failed to file documents potentially supporting Eni's defense in a corruption case tied to a $1.3 billion acquisition of a Nigerian oilfield over a decade ago. The court ruled "the offence does not exist," overturning an eight-month prison sentence previously upheld by a Brescia court in October 2025.

Background

Eni, Shell, and all other defendants were already acquitted in March 2021 in what was described as the energy industry's largest corruption case. The prosecutors faced accusations for not filing a video recorded by a former Eni external lawyer that was deemed relevant to the trial.

Market Implications

This ruling provides final legal closure to a corruption scandal that has shadowed Eni and Shell for years. The complete exoneration of the prosecutors involved removes any lingering legal uncertainties surrounding the case. For Eni, this represents the conclusion of a protracted legal battle that previously resulted in its acquittal, potentially allowing the company to focus fully on operations without legacy legal concerns.

The decision reinforces the 2021 acquittal of both energy majors, validating their positions that no corruption occurred in the Nigerian oilfield transaction. This could strengthen investor confidence in both companies' governance and compliance frameworks.