Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke Bello has accused former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and family members of the late military dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha of being behind his ordeal in the Malabu oil deal.
His claim followed a recent decision by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to re-open investigations into the scandal involving Malabu Oil and Gas limited, Shell Ultra Deep Nigeria Limited and the Federal Government regarding the operation and sale of Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245.
Adoke was invited by the anti-graft agency on December 28, 2015 to shed more light on the oil deal.
In a December 31, 2015 letter addressed to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Adoke described the invitation by the anti-graft body as “curious, unconventional and mischievous” adding that, “since government is a continuum, all files detailing his involvement in Malabu affair was resident in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation. Adoke reiterated in the letter how he was informed of a grand plot by those with vested interests in the case to humiliate him.
“I was also informed that these individuals…(wanted) to smear my name with allegations of corruption and bribery and that some agents of the Abacha family and one Lawal Abba acting for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president , were behind the scheme,” he said in the letter.
Bello informed the Vice President that the motive for his humiliation was based on the claim that, “they were shareholders in Malabu Oil & Gas Limited and had been short-changed by the main shareholder of the company and that I had refused to use my official position as Attorney General of the Federation to help them get their dues from the main shareholder.”
He further explained how the Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245 was granted to Malabu Oil & Gas Limited by the administration of General Sani Abacha, GCFR in 1998.
Adoke said he came into the fray to resolve the dispute as the interest of the Federal Government was to ensure the payment of signature bonus, earn revenue through royalty and taxes. He said the signature bonus of $210 million was paid to the government and taxes and royalties were also paid.
“This is contrary to the lies and misinformation being peddled that Nigeria was short changed in the transaction,” he said.
Reacting to Adoke’s claim, Mazi Paul Ibe, Atiku’s media adviser said his boss does not have a hand in Adoke’s travails.
The Turakin Adamawa advised the ex-attorney general and others so invited to focus on clearing their names instead of dragging innocent people into the fray.
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