Reps Summon Jonathan Over Oil Block Scandal

The House of Representatives on Wednesday summoned former President Goodluck Jonathan to explain his role in the controversial OPL 245 Malabu oil deal.

The summons, which was through its ad hoc committee investigating the deal, came on the heels of similar invitation extended to Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, on Tuesday.

Razaq Atunwa (APC, Kwara), chairman of the committee, who briefed newsmen on Wednesday, stated that it was imperative that evidence should be taken from Jonathan to ensure thoroughness, natural justice and fair play in its investigation.

According to Atunwa, in arriving at the decision, the committee took into cognisance that Jonathan was the nation’s president at the time the ministers brokered the deal that led to the alleged diversion of $1 billion.

“Mr. Jonathan’s name featured in the proceedings initiated by a Milan public prosecutor in Italy.

“A United Kingdom court judgment in relation to an application to return part of the money being restrained, castigated the Jonathan administration as not having acted in the best interest of Nigeria in relation to the deal”, Atunwa added.

It would be recalled that the committee had on April 17 attempted to summon Jonathan, but the move was resisted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP‎) lawmakers, who felt that it was an affront to summon the former president, who understandably, is a chieftain of the party.

Jonathan, through Ikechukwu Eze, his media aide, denied allegations that he received a bribe of $200 million as proceeds from the Malabu oil deal, adding that he never received the committee’s letter inviting him to appear before it.

But Atunwa in the committee’s statement which he read to newsmen, said: “The Attorney General of the Federation at the material time, Mohammed Bello Adoke, has recently instituted proceedings in court wherein he pleads that all his actions were as instructed by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Accordingly, pursuant to the provisions of the constitution, the committee has decided to request that former President Goodluck Jonathan gives evidence as to his role in the matter. The secretariat will write to him, asking for his response and submissions.”

EFCC/Dan Etete

Investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had also revealed that substantial part of the funds involved in the controversial Malabu oil and gas (MOGL) deal was allegedly laundered through some Bureau de Change (BDCs) outfits within the country.

This was contained in the 16-page report, with the Ref. No: 3000/EFCC/ABJ/ISOS/TM.1/VOL.1/526, dated November 8, 2016, transmitted by the commission to the ad hoc committee.

The report reads in part: “The operator of the account, namely Chief Dan Etete (petroleum minister when the block was first allocated to MOGL), disbursed half of the money into four accounts controlled by Alh. Aliyu Abubakar (aka AA Oil), who made further disbursement to other accounts he controls.

“Bulk of the money was, however, laundered in cash through Bureau de Change (BDC). The operators of these BDCs admitted paying same to the sender, Alh. Aliyu Abubakar (aka AA Oil).”

According to a letter signed by Ojogbane Johnson on behalf of Ibrahim Magu, the EFCC Acting Executive Chairman, “investigation is at the verge of completion, in respect of the remaining payments made to enable the commission determine the extent of involvement of other persons, especially government officials yet to be linked with the fraud. Those found culpable would face appropriate charges in court.”

The EFCC also disclosed that Mohammed Adoke, as the serving Minister of Justice, allegedly solicited for the intervention of the presidency on the request of MOGL, for a settlement of the disagreement on the difficulty MOGL was having in accommodating Shell as joint operators of the block.

Adoke’s Response

Adoke, via a letter No HAGF/SH/2010/VOL.1/34 dated May 25, 2010, reportedly wrote to President Jonathan, recomm