An Italian judge has ordered oil majors Royal Dutch Shell and Eni to stand trial over alleged corruption in Nigeria, according to Reuters.
Eni executive, Claudio Descalzi, and his predecessor, Paolo Scaroni, will also face prosecution in the trial that will start on March 5 next year.
The oil companies are being persecuted for their role in the $1.3 billion controversial sale of OPL 245 oil block, an offshore oil block estimated to hold 9 billion barrels of crude.
Both companies are already facing prosecution in Nigeria over the deal, which was approved by Goodluck Jonathan, the former President.
All the parties involved have previously denied any wrongdoing.
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