The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has hailed the decision of Italy’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, to acquit Milan prosecutors, Fabio De Pasquale and Sergio Spadaro, of all allegations relating to their handling of the OPL 245 corruption trial. Recall that Italy’s highest court acquitted two Milan prosecutors accused of withholding documents that could have supported the defence in a major corruption case involving Eni and Shell Nigeria operations.

The Court of Cassation last Thursday overturned a lower court ruling and cleared Fabio De Pasquale and Sergio Spadaro of wrongdoing.

According to Reuters, the court ruled that the offence does not exist.

The case stemmed from the long-running prosecution over the $1.3 billion acquisition of Nigerian oilfield OPL 245 more than a decade ago.

The civil society organisation, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, described the judgment as a victory for the global anti-corruption movement and a strong affirmation of the need to protect prosecutors and anti-corruption institutions from intimidation, harassment, and politically motivated reprisals.

Reacting to the ruling, Suraju maintained that the acquittal reinforces the principle that prosecutors pursuing complex corruption cases involving powerful corporate and political interests must be allowed to carry out their responsibilities without fear of persecution.

“The decision of the Court of Cassation is a welcome development and a vindication of the prosecutors who dedicated years of their professional lives to pursuing one of the world’s most significant corruption cases. The judgment sends a powerful message that anti-corruption efforts must not be undermined through actions capable of discouraging investigators and prosecutors from carrying out their lawful duties,” Suraju added.

According to HEDA, the OPL 245 scandal remains a defining symbol of the challenges confronting international efforts to combat illicit financial flows, grand corruption, and the abuse of public resources.

The organisation noted that while legal proceedings may produce different outcomes across jurisdictions, the pursuit of accountability in matters of public interest must never be criminalised.