Sunday, March 18, 2018

A whistleblower at Eni's AGM 2018


In April 2017, Mr. Mauro Meggiolaro (Eni’s Critical Shareholder of the Fondazione Finanza Etica - Gruppo Banca Etica) took my case to Eni Shareholder's Meeting. Yes, I am the first whistleblower in the world to be represented at a Shareholder's Meeting! Under Italian law, Mr. Meggiolaro wrote 10 (ten) questions about my story. These questions would have to be answered by the Board of Eni. 

However, the members of the Board of Directors of the company did not answer to the questions that were individually formulated to them and preferred to respond in a long text. In this text, once again Eni "made up" a new version on my dismissal:

"The former employee was fired together with other actors of unlawful behavior, by reticence, for having violated the obligation of confidentiality and by trying to use instrumentally Eni's Code of Ethics to gain personal advantages of the company".


This was the third version about my dismissal without Eni having submitted one single proof on its charges. In fact, Eni tried to prove what the company said. In this same document Eni also says: 

Contrary to his belief, from the investigations performed by Eni, following the notices received in 2002, it emerged that, as reported by the Board of Statutory Auditors of Eni SpA in the Shareholders’ Meeting Report included in the Eni 2002 Financial Statements”.

But, this Eni 2002 Financial Statements has 354 pages and, of course, there is no mention of my case (know the “Eni 2002 Financial Statements” in full). 

It is easy to see that in 16 years Eni presented three different versions on my dismissal, distorting, at each new version, the facts that originally motivated the complaints lodged by me. It is also unincontrovertible fact that one version was more false and liar, more harmful and damaging than the other.

In the 1st Version, the company denies the "complaints" made by me and denies the "retaliation" practiced by Eni's Brazilian subsidiary, claiming that it was only a simple and ordinary "administrative and organizational restructuring". In the 2nd Version, I "did not collaborate" and had a "reticent stance" when Eni carried out "secret investigations" in Brazil. And, surprisingly, in the 3rd Version, the company says that I was criminally involved in the scheme of internal fraud and corruption (which I denounced), and that my dismissal occurred along with other actors of "illegal behavior". In addition, Eni accused me of "reticence", of not having preserved "confidentiality" and of being an "opportunistic" person because I had used Eni's Code of Ethics (which I fulfilled in full) to build an untrue story with the intention of obtaining financial advantages of Eni. The company cunning returns against the company itself, as it is more than evident that Eni doesn’t want to admit the truth: that I was dismissed in "reprisal" after denouncing a million-dollar scheme of corruption in Eni Brazil.

It is to be noted that in all those years Eni doesn’t admit its mistakes towards me. It is undisputed that I: (a) simply complied with the determinations of Eni’s Code of Ethics; (b) that I was the "whistleblower" who stripped away the dark facts that were happening in the innards of Eni Brazil; (c) that I denounced a millionaire fraud and corruption scheme at Eni's Brazilian subsidiary, providing the company with the necessary measures to correct such non-conformities with the Code of Ethics and to stop the millionaire deviations in the coffers of Eni Brazil; (d), nor did it finally admit that I was dismissed in "reprisal" when he should have been protected by the instruments present in Eni's Code of Ethics.

Now, I decided to buy shares of Eni to become a "shareholder" of the company. And, in May 10, 2018, I will be present at Eni's Shareholders' Meeting to - in person - try to undo the all the slanderous and mendacious, cruel and damaging, libelous and defamatory comments made by the Board of Eni. This way, I can - finally - be able to rescue and restore my name, my honor and my reputation unfairly depreciated and denegrated by the Italian oil giant over more than 16 years.


Wednesday, March 07, 2018

Eni's CEO is on the tightrope!



Eni's CEO Claudio Descalzi is on the tightrope! His possible departure from the Italian oil giant's cockpit will not be given because he is a "defendant" in the case known as "Bribe of the Century", but because of the lack of "political support": the DP (Democratic Party) was defeated in the Italian elections of March 5th. The new Prime-Minister will be responsible for nominating the new CEO of Eni. If this is confirmed, I can only say "Bye bye Mr. Descalzi!" I hope that the new CEO of Eni is a worthy and honorable man, a honest and ethical professional, doing what is right to do in my case: to open an investigation so that the truth can emerge from the corruption bog of this company so that I, after almost 17 years, can rescue and restore my name, my honor and my reputation that has been denigrated and depreciated by Eni to this day. Read more about my 16 years fight agains Eni.  

Tuesday, March 06, 2018

Eni go to trial: A new chapter opens!





"I love it when a plan comes together. Presumably phrases of this type are commonplace in the backrooms and bars where corruption plans are hatched, as palms are greased and pockets are stuffed with stolen money.
But sometimes those of us on the other side of the fence who are fighting corruption get to say it too. Our plan is to see that oil firms are held accountable when they try to engage in corruption, that they pay the price for their actions and that justice is done for the citizens who have their assets looted.
And this morning in a chilly Milan we witnessed the next crucial stage in the unfolding saga of Shell and Eni’s involvement in the Nigerian oil block OPL 245. Today saw the opening hearing of one of the largest corporate corruption trial in history. Shell, Eni and 13 individuals, including their current and previous top oil executives, are facing charges of international corruption over a Nigerian oil deal where $1.1 billion was siphoned off. This is home ground for Eni, an Italian oil major part-owned by the Italian state. Not that we know right know who will be running the Italian state next, but as in both politics and court cases patience and strategy are paramount.
We suspected that the opening day of the trial would be mostly procedural, lacking the lightning and firecrackers to come when high-profile defendants will be cross-examined and evidence put before the judges in this historic trial.
But it was nonetheless a tense curtain-raiser, rich with symbolism and reeking of reputations to be won and lost. All the relevant parties gathered in a small courtroom in the Milan Palace of Justice. Each of the 15 parties charged was represented by a lawyer, Global Witness’ lawyers were there, plus lawyers for other NGOs. Importantly there were also lawyers seeking to be recognised as legal representatives for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing the people who have lost most of all. All dressed in very fetching, flowing black gowns with white bibs.
 All in all there were nearly seventy people in a room designed for twenty - including three judges, at least thirty-five lawyers, a gaggle of press, four NGOs, and a giant metal cage. Yep, just to remind us in the starkest way possible that this is all about a huge legal charge, the far side of the courtroom was occupied by a long cell of black iron bars. In fact halfway through the proceedings two men in handcuffs were guided slowly by armed police through the lawyerly throng and locked up in the cell, awaiting their turn in a subsequent case. Nice dramatic touch for the day after the Oscars.
Global Witness applied to be a civil party to the case this morning, as did UK NGO Corner House, Re:Common from Italy and HEDA from Nigeria. You could have heard a pin drop as our lawyers approached the three judges to enter our application. Many of the multitude of lawyers representing Shell, Eni and the other defendants appeared genuinely concerned at this intervention, as they looked on wide-eyed and began to scribble notes fiercely. You could feel the electricity as the realisation dawned across the room that this is truly adversarial and the world is watching.
Less than an hour later this first step towards justice had been taken. The trial has opened, but due to caseload pressure the three judges passed this case on to a new set of judges. So now we wait until the next hearing on May 14, when the trial schedule should be confirmed and things can really start in earnest.
This case could take a year to play out, but the wheels are now rolling. Buckle up, this has all the makings of a very intriguing and groudbreaking ride. Watch this space. Ciao".

Saturday, March 03, 2018

Eni thinks that its Stakeholders are stupids!



This is another "marketing tool" from the Italian oil giant! The company steals more 1 billion dollars from the nigerian people with the "Bribe of the Century" and destroys the river Niger Delta.

Eni thinks that its Stakeholders are stupids! 


Thursday, March 01, 2018

Former CEO of Eni in jail?



The Public Ministry asks the Italian Criminal Court to convict the former CEO of Eni, Mr. Paolo Scaroni, for more than six years of prison for the bribe payment at Algeria

This is a demonstration of what Eni and its current CEO, Mr. Claudio Descalz, might expect from the "Bribe of the Century Case", the trial begins on March 5th.