Jonathan: Adoke was hunted globally over OPL 245 case — his memoir sets record straight

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says Mohammed Bello Adoke, who was former attorney-general of the federation (AGF) during his administration, was hunted globally during the oil prospecting lease (OPL) case. 

Jonathan spoke on Thursday in Abuja during the public presentation of Adoke’s memoir titled ‘OPL 245: Inside Story of the $1.3 billion Nigerian Oil Block’.

Represented by Pius Anyim, former senate president, the former president also said Adoke’s memoir upholds truth.

Jonathan said shortly after his tenure ended in 2015, “the succeeding government launched what many people saw as a manhunt against key officers” of his administration.

“The author of this memoir, Mr. Bello Adoke, was the attorney-general of the federation at that time. He was hunted across the globe,” he said.

“But today, he’s alive, he’s healthy, he’s here to tell his story. Let me, therefore, use this occasion to congratulate Mr. Bello Adoke, my friend and my brother, for his doggedness and to say that I am pleased to join you in celebrating this victory.”

The former president urged “all of us” to be conscious of the fact that power belongs to God.

Jonathan said the best anyone who is blessed with the opportunity of holding public office should do is to commit to the assignment and use the opportunity to uphold truth, justice, and fairness.

“I am to state, as always, that it is 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.

“The essence of the author’s effort in documenting his memoir is not only to put the record straight, but to contribute to the cause of truth and justice as the foremost pillars of nation building.”

Furthermore, Jonathan expressed how proud he was of Adoke, and congratulated the former AGF for the “wisdom and the courage to put down his own side of the story in the book we are about to present today”.

“To some people, the occasion may be a book presentation, whereas to others, it may mean different things,” the former president said.

Jonathan added that the book launch “means a celebration of victory over persecution”.

ADOKE WAS CHARGE BY BUHARI’S ADMINISTRATION

OPL 245 was awarded to Malabu Oil and Gas in 1998 by the Sani Abacha administration.

However, the block later became the focus of global corruption investigations, criminal prosecutions, and civil lawsuits after Malabu sold its entire stake to Shell and Eni for $1.1 billion in 2011.

The oil companies also paid a $210 million signature bonus to the Nigerian government.

Both local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) alleged that the $1.1 billion payment to Malabu was, in fact, a disguised bribe to Nigerian politicians who facilitated the transaction.

Under former president Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, criminal charges were brought against Adoke criminal charges were brought against Adoke, who oversaw the Shell-Eni deal during his tenure.

Italian prosecutors also brought charges in Milan against Shell, Eni, Dan Etete (the former petroleum minister behind the Malabu deal), and other individuals.

Also, the Nigerian government pursued a $1.7 billion compensation claim against JP Morgan in the United Kingdom (UK), accusing the bank of improperly transferring proceeds from the OPL 245 sale.

Ultimately, courts in Italy, the UK, and Nigeria ruled that there was no evidence of corruption or proof that Nigeria was defrauded.

Investigations by the US department of justice, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Dutch authorities were also dropped due to lack of incriminating evidence.

Adoke was acquitted acquitted and discharged by two federal high courts in Abuja on the related charges.

In his memoir, Adoke indicted Buhari, lawyers and foreign non-governmental organisations (NGO) in the Malabu saga, but the AGF said he has forgiven everyone behind the OPL 245 ordeal,