Energy company Eni SpA (E) said Thursday it has been in talks with the U.S. Department of Justice and Milan prosecutors regarding a graft probe in Nigeria.

"We have talked and have cooperated with the Department of Justice and Milan prosecutors over the probe," Chief Executive Paolo Scaroni told the annual shareholders' meeting in Rome.

He said if any of its employees, or former workers, were found to have taken part in the corruption scandal, Eni will seek to file lawsuits to protect its interests.

The probe centers around TSKJ, a private company registered in Portugal comprising Technip SA (1317.FR) of France; Snamprogetti Netherlands, an affiliate of Eni; JGC Corporation of Japan (1963.TO) and KBR (KBR), which was spun off by Halliburton (HAL) two years ago.

Company Web site: www.eni.it

-By Liam Moloney, Dow Jones Newswires; +39 06 6976 6924; liam.moloney@dowjones.com