The Minister of Oil and Gas for Libya's interim Government of National Unity, Mohamed Oun, called the signing of an $8 billion agreement with Italian energy giant Eni on Saturday, "illegal and lacks equality between the Libyan and Italian sides."

Oun said in a video recording released on Saturday that re-opening negotiations with Eni was wrong because "this issue was negotiated in 2008 through five committees in which I was the head of the main committee." 

He explained that the other committees included “technical, financial and legal aspects. In addition to a mini-ministerial committee headed by the former Secretary of the General People’s Committee, and Farhat Bengdara was one of its members.”

Oun added, “The contract was not signed in 2008, but previous contracts were amended.”

Bengdara the current head of Libya's National Oil Corporation did not address Oun’s criticism during the signing ceremony but said those who reject the deal could challenge it in court.