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MILAN, Oct 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department has
closed its investigations into alleged corruption by oil major
Eni ENI.MI in Nigeria and Algeria without taking any action,
the Italian energy group said on Tuesday.
Eni, the biggest foreign oil and gas producer in Africa, is
currently on trial in Milan on graft allegations revolving round
the acquisition of a giant Nigerian oilfield in 2011.
In that case Eni and peer Royal Dutch Shell RDSa.L are
accused of buying the OPL 245 offshore field for about $1.3
billion in a deal that spawned one of the industry's largest
graft scandals. Milan prosecutors allege that about $1.1 billion of the
total was siphoned off to pay politicians, businessmen and
middlemen.
Eni and Shell have denied any wrongdoing.
"Today's decision by the DOJ confirms the findings of
independent advisors, who conducted investigations into the
claims... which also found no illegal activity," Eni said.
It said it was confident the allegations leveled at it by
prosecutors in the Milan court case would be found groundless.
Eni had also been involved in a long-running corruption case
involving its previously 43%-owned unit Saipem SPMI.MI over
alleged bribes in Algeria paid to win contracts.
A Milan court acquitted Eni last year.