Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, says the federal government owes Mohammed Adoke, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), an apology over the controversy surrounding the OPL245 oil block.
Adoke was at the center of the OPL245 saga after advising
former President Goodluck Jonathan to implement a 2006 out-of-court settlement,
facilitating Malabu Oil and Gas’s $1.1 billion sale of the oil block to Shell
and Eni in 2011.
As AGF from 2010 to 2015, his legal guidance aimed to
resolve a prolonged dispute but triggered fraud and corruption allegations from
the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Adoke faced intense scrutiny, including Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charges and international probes, though
courts in Nigeria, the UK, and Italy acquitted him.
Speaking at the launch of Adoke’s memoir, ‘OPL 245: Inside
Story of the $1.3bn Nigerian Oil Block’, Nnaji described the book as a crucial
account that sets the record straight on a saga that has long remained
misunderstood.
“As a businessman, I am privy to the true story of OPL245.
With all I know, we can only apologise and learn from the mistakes,” Nnaji
said.
He expressed surprise at the accusations levelled against
Adoke, questioning whether he was indeed the petroleum minister responsible for
awarding oil blocks.
Nnaji congratulated Adoke for emerging victorious from the
controversy and wished him well in his future endeavours
“I have always wondered if you were the minister of
petroleum that awards oil blocks or otherwise,” he said.
“Therefore, I must congratulate you, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke
for coming out of this saga victorious and I wish you all the best.”
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