Reps Invite Adoke over $1.09Bn Malabu Oil Deal

House of Representatives Tuesday ordered Mohammed Adoke, attorney-general and Justice minister, to appear before its committees and explain a letter purportedly written by the minister to Transparency International, claiming he had been absolved of wrongdoing in the over N155 billion Malabu oil bloc fraud.

About $1.09 billion was reportedly paid in a deal facilitated by the Federal Government in 2011 for Shell and Agip to take over 100 per cent control of the oil well.

OPL 245 originally belonged to Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, an indigenous firm.

The House resolution asked the minister to appear before the committee to “clarify the source of the document where he was cleared of all illegality and constitutional breaches in respect of OPL 245.”

Mr. Sampson Osagie, minority leader of the House who brought Adoke’s alleged claim to the attention of lawmakers, stated that it was contained in a presentation the minister made to a United States group last week.

Owing to allegations that Nigeria’s national interests were not protected in the deal, the House set up an ad hoc committee in December 2012 to investigate the transaction.

The committee, which is chaired by Leo Ogor, deputy leader, submitted the report of its findings last Wednesday.

Osagie expressed surprise that Adoke could claim that a report yet to be considered by the House exonerated him of wrongdoing.

The House has mandated its Committee on Justice to invite Adoke to find out if its true that he wrote such a letter and also to ascertain if the letter as he claimed is from the House and what the content of the letter is.

The committee is to report back within a week.

Part of the letter allegedly written by Adoke reads:

“You may wish to note that the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had instituted a probe into the transaction and, at the end, they were satisfied that there was no infraction on the constitution or any other Nigerian law.

“While I thank you for the concern shown in respect of the transaction, I wish to state that since the OPL 245 resolution agreement did not breach the constitution or any extant law and was approved by all relevant authorities and persons, I am therefore unable to justify the call for investigation of the officials of the Ministry of Finance or indeed any other person or authority.

“In view of the foregoing, I wish to reiterate that the settlement relating to OPL 245 did not breach the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and/or any extant law. The transaction was completely transparent and received the approval of relevant authorities and persons.”