TheCable

The house of representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the contract of oil prospecting license (OPL) 245 has said it may invite former president, Goodluck Jonathan.

Jonathan was alleged to have received up to $200m in kickbacks from the Malabu oil deal but the immediate past president has denied the allegations.

Razak Atunwa, the chairman of the committee, in a statement on Wednesday, said the lawmakers were considering inviting Jonathan to assist in its inquiries.

“The House of Representatives, by a resolution taken at plenary set up and mandated this committee to, inter alia, conduct a thorough examination of the process and circumstances surrounding OPL 245 and identify culpability of any persons, groups or organizations,” the statement read.

“The committee is aware of recent information that has come to light, both nationally and internationally, indicating that former president Goodluck Jonathan may have been complicit in the controversial OPL 245 deal.

“The committee is also closely monitoring the proceedings in the Italian Courts instituted by the Public Prosecutor of Milan, in which ministers in Jonathan administration were mentioned including the president Jonathan himself.

“These facts have firmly placed former president Jonathan on the committee’s radar. The committee believes that former president Jonathan may well be in a position to assist it with its inquiries.

“Accordingly, the committee is considering inviting him to give evidence before it. An announcement will be made once a formal firm decision is taken on the matter. The committee intends to be meticulous, thorough and comprehensive in its inquiry so as to bring about finality to this seemingly intractable matter,” he said.