EMILIO PARODI ITALIAN prosecutors dropped criminal proceedings over a $1.3 billion Nigerian oilfield deal, clearing energy majors Eni and Shell, as well as managers including Eni Chief Executive Claudio Descalzi. Attorney General Celestina Gravina signalled the prosecution did not plan to pursue the case at the start of an appeal hearing into one of the oil industry's biggest ever corruption cases. "This case must finish today because it has no basis, in fact, it should have finished earlier," Gravina told the court. The Appeal Court formally took note of the decision, meaning the criminal case will be closed and the acquittal…