Mohammed Bello Adoke, former attorney-general of the
federation (AGF), says the settlement of the oil prospecting licence (OPL) 245
dispute by President Bola Tinubu indicts the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
On Thursday, the presidency announced the successful
conclusion of a settlement agreement between the federal government, Eni, and
Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited (NAEL).
Tinubu signed the agreement at an event in Abuja, attended
by top officials of the oil companies.
The presidency said the deal signals the resolution of a
dispute that spans more than 15 years, restoring clarity and stability to “an
asset widely recognised as one of Nigeria’s most commercially promising
deepwater blocks”.
Prior to the agreement, Reuters had reported that Nigeria
had inked a deal to split OPL 245 into four new assets, which will be operated
by Eni and Shell.
In a statement, the former AGF commended the Tinubu
administration for resolving the case “in the spirit of statesmanship”.
Adoke said the settlement is a testimony that Tinubu “fully
understands how the economy works and the importance of the oil-rich asset to
the attainment of national economic goals”.
Adoke said as AGF, he made attempts to resolve the squabble
and make the assets work in the interest of the nation.
The ex-AGF said instead, he was humiliated by the Buhari-led
administration and “trophy-hunting anti-corruption activists”.
He added that he deserves an unreserved apology from the
federal government for the “persecution and humiliation” he faced for advising
former president Goodluck Jonathan to “do the right thing on the oil block”.
“This is a testimony to the fact that he (Tinubu) fully
understands how the economy works and the importance of the oil-rich asset to
the attainment of national economic goals,” the statement reads.
“This is a further indictment of the President Muhammadu
Buhari administration who decided to scandalise and criminalise the hard work
we did in the national interest to resolve the disputes caused by the
unilateral revocation of the oil block by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2002.
“It is most unfortunate that I was subjected to humiliation
and defamation home and abroad for the patriotic role I played as the
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in resolving the
dispute to get this vital national asset working.
“If the Buhari administration and the trophy-hunting
anti-corruption activists had not dragged the country backwards with their
uninformed intervention, the Nigerian economy would have been far better off
today.
“I strongly believe that I deserve an unreserved apology
from the Federal Government for the persecution and humiliation I was subjected
for nine years and the scar I still bear in my body simply because I advised
the Goodluck Jonathan administration to do the right thing on the oil block.
“Nevertheless, I forgive all those who connived to smear my
name across the world. I take it as part of the burden of service to my
fatherland. I remain steadfast and unshaken in my belief in Nigeria.”
Adoke served as AGF and minister of justice from April 6,
2010, to May 29, 2015 under Goodluck Jonathan.
THE CASE
OPL 245 was awarded to Malabu in 1998 by the Sani Abacha
junta. Afterwards, it became the subject of global litigation.
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo reportedly revoked OPL
245 licence primarily due to irregularities in its original allocation and
opaque shareholding linked to Dan Etete, the former petroleum minister who
fronted the Malabu deal.
When Jonathan became president in 2010, the controversy
appeared to have been resolved with Shell and Eni agreeing to buy the block
from Malabu for $1.1 billion.
The oil companies also paid $210 million as signature bonus
to the federal government.
However, activists launched an international campaign,
alleging that the deal was fraudulent, and arguing that the proceeds were used
to bribe government officials.
Adoke was one of many officials entangled in the saga after
then president Muhammadu Buhari filed criminal charges against him.
However, Adoke was discharged and acquitted in the related
charges filed before two federal high courts in Abuja.
Nigeria also lost all cases in Italy and the UK, while the
US and Dutch authorities ended investigations without filing any charges.
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