Italian prosecutors have launched an investigation into the country's energy company, Eni SpA (E), over alleged bribery in Nigeria and have requested the suspension of contracts between Eni and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, reports La Repubblica in its Tuesday Internet edition.
The probe concerns alleged illegal payments carried out between 1994 and 2004 to Nigerian politicians in exchange for contracts, worth some EUR6 billion, in that country.
A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 22, the paper adds.