FG owes Adoke apology over OPL 245 saga, says minister

Uche Nnaji, minister of innovation, science, and technology, says the federal government owes Mohammed Adoke, former attorney-general of the federation (AGF), an apology over the controversy surrounding the OPL245 oil block.

Adoke was at the centre of the OPL 245 saga after advising former President Goodluck Jonathan to implement a 2006 out-of-court settlement which returned the oil block to Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd in 2010.

As AGF from 2010 to 2015, Adoke said his legal guidance aimed to resolve a prolonged dispute but triggered fraud and corruption allegations from the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Adoke faced intense scrutiny, including Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charges and international probes, though courts in Nigeria, the UK, and Italy acquitted him.

Speaking at the launch of Adoke’s memoir, ‘OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3bn Nigerian Oil Block’, Nnaji described the book as a crucial account that sets the record straight on a saga that has long remained misunderstood.

“As a businessman, I am privy to the true story of OPL 245. With all I know, we can only apologise and learn from the mistakes,” Nnaji said.

He expressed surprise at the accusations levelled against Adoke, questioning whether he was indeed the petroleum minister responsible for awarding oil blocks.

Nnaji congratulated Adoke for emerging victorious from the controversy and wished him well in his future endeavours

“I have always wondered if you were the minister of petroleum that awards oil blocks or otherwise,” he said.

“Therefore, I must congratulate you, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke for coming out of this saga victorious and I wish you all the best.”