The House of Representatives has
reacted to the no-case submission the Attorney General of the Federation, and
Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, made to President Muhammadu Buhari on the
lingering Oil Prospecting Licence 245 deal.
About $1.1 billion of the Malabu
Oil deal was allegedly shared by officials who represented the Federal
Government in the controversial transaction.
Mentioned in the case are a
former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and a
former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed
Bello- Adoke.
The two top officials served in
the immediate past administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
But, Malami in a recent letter to
Buhari sought to withdraw any case against the former officials on the grounds
that there was no evidence to initiate a successful prosecution.
The House of Representatives are
still investigating the matter when the AGF made his submission to Buhari.
The lawmakers have vowed to carry
out their investigations to a logical conclusion.
The Chairman of the House ad hoc
committee investigating the deal, Razak Atunwa, told Punch on Sunday that the
House was shocked by the AGF ’s letter.
Atunwa, who is a member of the
ruling party, said the position of the AGF raised concerns over the
anti-corruption war of the present administration.
He said, “I am worried that the
AGF would write such a letter to Mr. President, that there is no evidence. It
is a serious matter.
“What is important is that we
will do our work as an independent arm of government.
“Hopefully, by March, the report
will be ready. It is for Nigerians to know that we did our job. Whatever the
executive arm of government or the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
choose to do with it is their business.
“So, while we are worried by the
AGF ’s letter , our investigations as a House will continue.
“Again, whether Jonathan comes to
testify or not, we will have a report ready by March.”
The panel had invited Jonathan on
July 5 , 2017 to clarify certain issues but up to February 23 this year, he had
not responded to inquiries by the panel.
Atunwa explained that hearing
from Jonathan was also an indication that “thoroughness, natural justice and
fair play” was applied to the investigation.
He added, “Mr. Jonathan was the
President at the material time that (his cabinet) ministers brokered the deal
that led to the allegation of $1bn diversion of funds.
“Mr. Jonathan ’s name features in
the proceedings initiated by the Public Prosecutor of Milan in Italy. A United
Kingdom court judgment in relation to an application to return part of the
money being restrained, castigated the Jonathan administration as not having
acted in the best interest of Nigeria in relation to the ‘deal .’
“The Attorney- General of the
Federation at the material time, Mohammed Bello- Adoke, has recently instituted
proceedings in court wherein he pleads that all his actions were as instructed
by former President Goodluck Jonathan.”
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