Royal Dutch Shell has filed a criminal complaint with a Dutch court today over suspected bribes taken during the sale of a Nigerian onshore oilfield by a former employee.
According to a Shell spokesman, issues have surfaced in relation to the Nigerian Oil Mining Lease (OML) 42, which was sold back in 2011.
OML 42 was sold by Shell to Nigerian firm Neconde Energy, however, as part of an internal investigation by Shell, the oil firm discovered that bribes may have been paid to a Seychelles-listed company owned by the former employee.
Two Swiss bank accounts are also thought to be linked to the former Shell employee.
Speaking to Reuters, a Shell spokesman said: “Based on what we know now from an internal investigation, we suspect a crime may have been committed by our former employee … against Shell in relation to the sale process for Oil Mining Lease (OML) 42 in Nigeria,” the spokesman said.
“We have filed a criminal complaint with the Dutch authorities and are considering other steps we could take.”
Shell is Nigeria’s largest international oil producer.