Eni, Shell to Face Trial in Italy in $1 Billion Bribery Case

Judge says trial scheduled to start on March 5 in Milan
Decision also affects individuals including Eni CEO Descalzi

Tab seal caps for oil drums move along the production line at the Royal Dutch Shell Plc lubricants blending plant in Torzhok, Russia, on Tuesday, March 1, 2016. Royal Dutch Shell Plc has surpassed Chevron Corp. as the world's second-biggest non-state oil company after completing the acquisition of BG Group Plc.Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg

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By Chiara Albanese, Sergio Di Pasquale, and Kelly Gilblom

December 20, 2017 at 10:20 AM UTC

Updated on

December 20, 2017 at 1:21 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Eni SpA, Royal Dutch Shell Plc and senior executives will face trial over a $1.1 billion bribery scandal in Nigeria, an Italian judge ruled on Wednesday.

The trial will start on March 5 in Milan, judge Giusy Barbara told reporters. The long-awaited decision, initially expected several months ago, will not only affect the two companies but 11 individuals including Eni Chief Executive Officer Claudio Descalzi.