$1.1bn Malabu Oil Deal: Investigations are Ongoing, Says AGF
Malami said this yesterday when he
appeared before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee mandated
to re-open investigations into the sale of the controversial oil block,
where he added that the government would not take a position until all
complexities in the deal are resolved.
The complexities, he stated, are borne from the several national and
international litigations among the parties to the OPL 245.
The federal government, Agip, Shell,
Malabu Oil and Gas, and several individuals had entered litigation and
agreements, at different times, Malami told the committee chaired by
Hon. Razak Atunwa (Kwara APC).
Within Malabu Oil itself, there were different interests which made it hard to determine which parties signed which agreements, he added.
“We have multiple contentions. There is
Mohammed Abacha, we have Dan Etete, Atiku Abubakar, Hassan Adamu; they
are all laying claims to entities,” Malami noted and added that the
complex history of the oil well itself, has led to the revocation and
re-award of its licence several times.
“So, whatever I am providing to this
committee is provisional. The investigation is ongoing and it is not
conclusive. There are many areas to look at. We will take a
comprehensive position and revert to the committee as soon as possible,”
the AGF said.
At the hearing which was attended by the
Abacha and Oyewole Fasawe, who are shareholders in Malabu Oil, the AGF
noted that some available information have already shown that there were
irregularities.
The committee chairman, Atunwa noted that the ‘lucrative’ OPL 245 occupies an area of 1,958 square kilometres and holds up to 9.2 billion barrels of crude oil.
“This is a highly controversial
allocation of perhaps the biggest oil bloc in Africa. There is a lot at
stake on this issue and the credibility and revenue for this country is
at stake. However complex the situation may be, the law is able to deal
with it. The House is also able to make enquiries and make
recommendation on the matter,” he said.
Atunwa added that the hearing, even
though not a substantive one, is intended to identify culpable persons
in the matter of the OPL 245, and to unveil the processes that led to
the award.
“The powers of the former minister to award the oil bloc in not unfettered. The House has the power to examine,” he said.
The committees members who had frowned
at the absence of representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC), insisted they must appear.
The hearing was adjourned to October 18, 2016.
Source: ThisDay
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