TheCable

‎John Tsoho, justice of the federal high court, Abuja, has adjourned ruling on an application by Shell Nigeria Limited and Eni, seeking the vacation of an order of interim forfeiture of OPL 245.

The judge took the decision to adjourn the case to Friday after Malabu oil and gas filed an application to be joined in the matter.

On February 28, the court had adjourned ruling on the application for a retraction of the interim forfeiture order filed by the oil majors.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had ‎obtained an order for the forfeiture of an oil block, OPL 245, which is considered to be lucrative, by Shell and Eni.

The EFCC had asked the court to temporarily return OPL 245 to the government while it continued its investigation‎ of alleged corruption in the sale of the block.

The two oil majors had allegedly paid $1.1bn to the government through Malabu oil and gas, which reportedly had a major stake in the block, but the money was never remitted to the government.

The anti-graft agency had filed charges of corruption against Shell, Eni, Dan Etete, who has a major interest in Malabu oil and gas, Mohammed Adoke, former attorney-general, and Aliyu Abubakar, a businessman, at a federal capital territory (FCT) high court, Abuja .