Former President Goodluck Jonathan has accused the administration of his successor, Muhammadu Buhari, of harassing several key officials from his government in connection with the controversial OPL-245 case, widely known as the Malabu Oil deal scandal.
The OPL-245 controversy stems from the 2011 acquisition of Oil Prospecting Licence 245, a valuable Nigerian oil block, by oil giants Shell and Eni for $1.3 billion.
Subsequent allegations indicated that $1.1 billion of this payment was purportedly channeled through intermediaries as bribes to Nigerian officials and politicians.
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Speaking via former Senate President Pius Anyim at the public presentation of a memoir titled “OPL 245: Inside Story of the $1.3bn Nigerian Oil Block” by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Bello Adoke, Jonathan stated that the Buhari government initiated what many considered a “political witch-hunt” against some of his former aides.
“Shortly after my tenure ended in 2015, the succeeding government launched what many saw as a manhunt against key officers of my administration,” Jonathan stated. “The author of this memoir, Mr. Bello Adoke, was the Attorney-General of the Federation at that time. He was hunted across the globe over the OPL-245 matter.
“But today, he is alive, he is healthy, and he is here to tell his story. Let me, therefore, use this occasion to congratulate Mr. Bello Adoke, my friend and brother, for his doggedness, and to say that I am pleased to join you in celebrating this victory. I urge all of us to remain conscious of the fact that power belongs to God.”
Jonathan emphasised the importance of justice, fairness, and integrity in public service, warning that any society that fails to uphold these values cannot enjoy peace or progress.
“I must state, as always, that it is widely acknowledged among all civilisations that any society or organisation that does not promote justice and fairness will neither have peace nor make progress,” he said.
He implored public officeholders to maintain their commitment to truth, justice, and fairness while carrying out their responsibilities.
The Malabu scandal’s origins date back to 1998, when Oil Prospecting Licence 245 (OPL-245) was initially granted to Malabu Oil and Gas by the Sani Abacha administration.
This oil block subsequently became the focus of numerous global investigations, criminal prosecutions, and civil lawsuits after Malabu sold its entire stake to Shell and Eni in 2011.
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