Nigeria, May 24 -- A coalition of local and international anti-corruption groups has asked the Nigerian media "to protect public interest and the integrity of the judiciary by ensuring professional ethics in the report of the scam associated with OPL 245."

OPL 245 is the oil block for which Shell and Eni paid $1.1 billion in 2011 in a deal mediated by the Jonathan administration.

The money did not go to the Nigerian government but ended up, largely, in the hands of private individuals including a former petroleum minister, Dan Etete.

The matter is being investigated in at least five countries with some of the accused prosecuted in Nigeria, Italy and the UK.

The groups that released the Sunday statement said it was sub-judicial for a s...