MALABU OIL SCAM: UK COURT REPATRIATES $73M TO FG

*We’ve deposited cash with CBN —Malami 

*FG signs new pacts with 6 countries to block looting of funds 

Although the Nigerian Government is yet to prosecute and convict many individuals and entities involved in the alleged monumental fraud running into billions of Naira in the controversial Oil Prospecting Lease 245, the United Kingdom has returned the sum of $73 million seized in connection with the fraud to the Nigerian Government. 

Fuel Supply: NNPC set to control more than 14% market share Oil However, the name of the individual or the company the cash was recovered from has not been named at the moment, even as the money has been received in Nigeria.

According to a document made available to Saturday Vanguard by the Attorney General of the Federation, the money was part of the questionable proceeds from the sale of OPL 245 by Malabu Oil and Gas Company to ENI/Shell. 

The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, confirmed in the document he made available to Saturday Vanguard that the cash had already been received and paid into the Central Bank of Nigeria. 

“The Commercial Court in the UK ordered a pay out of the sum of over $73 million with interest to the Nigerian Government, this being part of the proceeds from the sale of OPL 245 by Malabu Oil and Gas Company to ENI/SHELL. 

“The said sum has also been received and deposited with the Central Bank,” the minister said. The repatriation comes as the Federal Government has taken major steps to block the looting of funds into or out of the country by corrupt elements.

Accordingly, the government has signed memoranda of understanding and bilateral agreements with the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Italy to ensure that funds looted to those climes are promptly returned and vice versa.

Malami also said that the government was making international recovery efforts to cover other countries such as the United States, Ireland, Island of Jersey and France.

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/malabu-oil-scam-uk-court-repatriates-73m-to-fg/

https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/malabu-oil-scam-12-things-you-should-know-about-controversial-deal-id6519987.html

MALABU OIL SCAM : 12 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL DEAL

'Jola Sotubo | 13:21 | 12.04.2017

The controversial $1.3 billion deal revolves around “OPL 245,” which is believed to be the most valuable oil field in West Africa.
How ex-oil minister Dan Etete siphoned $1 billion Nigeria oil money
» more How ex-oil minister Dan Etete siphoned $1 billion Nigeria oil money

The Malabu oil scam has been making headlines for years and is being described as one of the largest corruption scandals ever witnessed in the global oil industry.
The controversial $1.3 billion deal revolves around “OPL 245,” which is believed to be the most valuable oil field in West Africa.

The scam is being investigated in Nigeria, Italy and Netherlands due to the participation of oil giants Shell and ENI.

Below are 12 things you should know about the controversial Malabu oil deal:

1. Former petroleum minister, Dan Etete, who was appointed by late dictator Sani Abacha, acquired “OPL 245” through his company, Malabu Oil and Gas Limited while in office in 1998.

Dan Etete
Dan Etete (Reuters)

2. The deal was struck only five days after the company was incorporated with three shareholders; Mohammed Sani Abacha , Kweku Amafagha (a fake name created by Etete) and Hassan Hindu (wife of a former Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK).

Mohammed Abacha (pictured) has purchased the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination form to contest in the 2015 Kano governorship elections
» more Mohammed Abacha (pictured) has purchased the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination form to contest in the 2015 Kano governorship elections (Nairaland)

3. Etete illegally awarded himself the oil block and paid only $2 million out of the $20 million legally required by the state.

4. The oil block, which is said to have about 9 billion barrels of crude oil, was sold to Shell and ENI for $1.3 billion in 2011.

5. However, Shell and ENI did not want to deal directly with Etete, who had been convicted in France for his part in a separate money laundering scandal, so they sent the money to an account belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria in JP Morgan bank, London.

6. The Federal Government of Nigeria, under the Goodluck Jonathan regime, then transferred $801 million of the money into accounts controlled by Malabu and Etete in Nigeria.

7. The money was then allegedly shared to various public officials in Nigeria as bribes while the government got only the sum of $210m USD as signature bonus on OPL 245.

8. Officials accused of receiving bribes in connection with the deal include, Goodluck Jonathan, former Nigerian Attorney General, Mohammed Bello Adoke and former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Diezani Alison-Madueke no longer cares about protecting co-conspirators, Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore.
» more Diezani Alison-Madueke no longer cares about protecting co-conspirators, Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore. (AFP/File)

9. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a nine-count criminal charge against Adoke, SAN, and eight others over the oil block scam.

Mohammed Adoke
Ex-Attorney General, Mohammed Adoke

10. Fresh evidence based on a report released by watchdog groups, Global Witness and Finance Uncovered shows that top executives at Shell and ENI knew that the money they paid for oil block “OPL 245” would go to Etete.

11. Shell and ENI have denied wrongdoing even though emails shared by Shell staff show that its executives were negotiating directly with Etete for a year before the deal was finalized.

Correspondence by Shell staff on Etete and Malabu oil deal
» more Correspondence by Shell staff on Etete and Malabu oil deal (Buzzfeed)

12. Goodluck Jonathan is alleged to have received up to $200 million from the controversial deal.

Meanwhile, Shell has, through spokesman, Andy Norman, admitted that it knew the $1.3 billion paid by itself and ENI would be used to settle Etete.

“Over time, it became clear to us that Etete was involved in Malabu and that the only way to resolve the impasse through a negotiated settlement was to engage with Etete and Malabu, whether we liked it or not,” Norman told the New York Times via an email sent on Monday, April 10.

IF YOU UNDERMINE WORKERS BENEFITS, YOU WILL EVENTUALLY GO TO JAIL, BUHARI TELL CORRUPT LEADERS

President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari, says leaders who undermine the economy by denying workers their benefits, while stuffing their personal accounts with public funds will not escape the current anti-corruption dragnet.

The president stated this when he received All Progressives Congress delegation from Benue State, led by Senator George Akume, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

President Buhari said the Federal Government’s bailout to states and Paris Club funds were basically to alleviate the sufferings of the people, describing misappropriation as unjust and unfair to workers.

He said: “I honestly don’t know how people sleep when workers have not been paid. The workers have to pay rent, buy food, send their children to school and they have health care to take care of.

“I assure you that my main interest is all Nigerians in all parts of the country.

“Therefore, if anybody who tries to create any impression that I prefer any group across ethnicity or religion let him dare me by being caught red-handed stealing public funds. I will deal with him.’’

The President told the APC delegation that the Federal Executive Council had been monitoring the plight of workers across the country and utilisation of the bailout and Paris Club funds by some states.

“I thank you for your courage to come and see me. This visit has resuscitated our morale,’’ he said.

LABOUR TO GOVS: CUT DOWN ON EXCESSES TO PAY NEW MINIMUM WAGE

The leadership of Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has told governors to cut down on their excesses and unnecessary political appointments to be able to pay civil servants N30,000 new minimum wage.

A deputy president of NLC, Mr. Peter Adeyemi, said this in an interview with journalists in Ilorin, noting that the governors are being wicked by insisting that they could not pay the workers N30,000.

Adeyemi, who is also the General Secretary of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, spoke at the regular trade group meeting of research trade group held at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, MINILS, yesterday.

He also issued 21 days ultimatum to the management of MINILS to settle the eight points demand of the workers as listed by the branch chairman, Mrs R.O. Adebayo, which include unpaid staff claims, inconclusive 2018 promotion exercise and seizures of 2017 promotion letters of some members among others or incur the wrath of the union.

Adeyemi said by the new N30,000 minimum wage, governors must under-stand that an estimate of N1,000 per day for a family of six in 30 is still ridiculous and unrealisable, hence they must pay the new minimum wage.

His words: “We think the governors are trying to play to the gallery. Nigerian workers must not compromise their rights; they should use their PVC wisely to vote these governors and their party out of office because they are insensitive and do not have the feelings of human being.”

AT LEAST 50 STAFF DISMISSED AT NIGERIAN HIGH COMMISSION IN LONDON

Over 50 Staff of the Nigerian High Commission London were dismissed and asked to accept a letter dated 22nd of November, 2018, Meanwhile, the Commission claims the dismissal took effect from 1st of January 2018. The staff of the commission has been working all year (2018) with months of no pay.

The letter of termination came due to a continual outcry from staff members of the commission demanding their salary arrears. In the letter signed by Helen Nzeako on behalf of the Nigerian High Commission UK, the termination of employment is as a result of the restructuring of the organization and due to budgetary constraints.

The staff members of the Commission have received this news in dismay and disappointment as most have served the Federal Government of Nigeria meritoriously. A source alleged that the exercise is a plot by the management to disengage every staff to so as to pave way for them to employ their friends & family members into these positions.

The letter of termination or disengagement instructed staff to reapply for the same job if they so wish.

“We want the World to see how we are been ill-treated just because we asked for our salaries. This is so unfair and an injustice to democratic rule”.

As quoted by a displaced staff of the commission. However the aggrieved staff are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Government of Nigeria to look into the matter.

CLAIMS THAT OKONJO-IWEALA , OTHERS URGED ME NOT TO CONCEDE DEFIS TWISTED LOGIC – GEJ

Former President Goodluck Jonathan (middle); Former Vice President Namadi Sambo (left) and Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has debunked insinuations by a newspaper that he was persuaded not to concede defeat by some of his ministers including former finance minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala describing it as twisted logic.

Responding to a story which indicated that those with him at the time he called President Muhammadu Buhari to concede thought otherwise, Jonathan noted that such interpretation was tantamount to stretching interpretative reporting beyond acceptable limits, stressing that the writer wilfully ignored the true account of what happened at that critical moment as clearly stated in the book, ” just to create mischief.”

Jonathan and Okonjo-Iweala

In a statement issued by Ikechukwu Eze, his media adviser, Jonathan further described the claim as a gross misrepresentation of what he wrote in his new book.

He said: “Our attention has been drawn to a circulating story titled ‘Jonathan: I was pressed to reject 2015 election result’ which erroneously claimed that some identified former aides and ministers of ex-President Jonathan advised him “not to accept defeat.”

The story which was said to have been written from President Jonathan’s new book ‘My Transition Hours’ mentioned the then Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister Mohammed Bello Adoke; Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka, as those whose advice was rebuffed by Jonathan.

“This is obviously a gross misrepresentation of what was clearly stated in the book. .
“President Jonathan had maintained that he never consulted anybody over the decision to call and congratulate his opponent while the results of the 2015 Presidential election was still being tallied. Whereas the decision to concede defeat was one he took without any compelling, the former President is however grateful to those who were with him at that moment and many other Nigerians that shared in his conviction to put across the historic phone call.

“For the avoidance of doubt the former President in his narrative of his engagement with the mentioned key appointees at that critical time in the nation’s political history stated clearly that the we’re considering “sundry alternatives, but I was quiet in the midst of their discussion.” However, this was how The Nation chose to report the narrative: “Okonjo-Iweala, Adoke, Chidoka, Dudafa advised me not to accept defeat”.

“It therefore beggars belief that the phrase ‘sundry alternatives’ could be interpreted to mean that the former President was advised by the identified personalities ‘not to accept defeat.’

“We always say that the society will be better served if journalists keep their interpretative reporting within the limits of credible and constructive imagination.”

HOW ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE REACTED TO UCHE SECONDUS, OBASANJO AT JONATHAN’S BOOK LAUNCH

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole and his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, counterpart, Uche Secondus, stole the show at the public presentation and launch of “My Transition Hours” a book written by former president Goodluck Jonathan.

Oshiomhole caught the attention of attendees after he shook hands with, and embraced Secondus.

The National Chairman was also seen exchanging pleasantries with former president Olusegun Obasanjo, which attracted attention in view of his fierce criticisms of the former president.

Oshiomhole arrived the venue at the same time with a former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio.

Former heads of state, Yakubu Gowon, Abdulsalam Abubakar and former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, are currently attending the book launch of former President, Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja

Also present at the book launch are former President of Ghana, John Mahama, President of the AfDB, Akinwumi Adesina and some governors elected under PDP.

President Muhammadu Buhari is represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

“ GOODLUCK JONATHAN HAD NO SHOES, YOU SOLD FIREWOOD’' – NIGERIANS REACT TO ATIKU'S PLAN

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has caused reactions from Nigerians on social media over his campaign policy document ‘The Atiku Plan.’

On Monday, Atiku revealed his plan for Nigerians in 2019and narrated a story of how he started selling firewood as an orphan in Adamawa before he got rich.

He quoted his statement by saying: “I started out as an orphan selling firewood on the streets of Jada in Adamawa, but God, through the Nigerian state, invested in me and here I am today. If Nigeria worked for me, I owe it as my duty to make sure that Nigeria also works for you.”

But, his above statement received backslash from some Nigerians on social media as they compared his story to that of former President Goodluck Jonathan who said he had no shoes while campaigning.

Some Nigerians advised the Atiku to desist from such stories as Nigerians would not fall for such sympathetic stories in voting for the next president.

Here are some comments gathered from Twitter:

@Ugochijanetrump: “Goodluck told us in 2011 he was not born rich and that he had no shoes and school bags. By 2015, GEJ had bought many bags to pack our money. In 2017, Peter Obi said he own only one wristwatch & he doesn’t own any house outside Nigeria. Now, today is for Atiku as firewood seller.”

@Chijev “It’s actually not a good line to start. Nigerians no longer trust those gimmicks.
I’ll recommend concentrating on issue based agenda and not some not-so- convincing poverty root.”

@diran_mendy106 “BURSTED!!! The last president that was shoeless and sell fish, nosedived the economy into recession,we don’t need firewood seller to plunge us into depression.Nigerians are now wise.”

@Abuusamayusuf “This is the kind of story Jonathan told us in is quest to be our president.I don’t know think this kind of sympathetic stories can sell any more.”

@Vexless “Whether as an orphan or you had no shoes, its not news. MKO had to sell firewood to pay his sch fee & that of your former boss. The news now is that @MBuhari constructed that same Jada road which you abandoned for 8yrs. Well, Obj also neglected Otta road that leads to his abode.”

@Joevankas “Last time we heard from Jonathan that was shoeless now it’s Atiku claiming to have started out as an orphan. Nigerians won’t fall for these lies ever again.”

@tbrtroopers “President Atiku Thank you for including all of us in your visions for Nigeria. You have led by example and proven to be resolute and resourceful in you previous endeavors, the same goes to you VP @PeterGregoryObi . I can’t envisage anything but success. Thank you once again.”

@Emperoraustus “His Excellency Atiku …. we once had an aspirant who later became the president. According to him, he doesn’t even have any shoe and he was from a poor family like you. We hope we will not end up experience the same regime if you win? Just asking.”

@Essuharison “Politicians and poverty stories.Playing with our emotions. Let’s talk more about deliverable not all these stories you’re concocting.”

@Musamonsur “This is similar to the story told by GEJ when he said he had no shoe, that made people to be sympathetic with him and voted for him.but Nigerians are wiser now.”

@Sulebaba_Sadeeq “Atiku started by Selling Firewood, Graduated to Selling NITEL, Nigeria Airways etc. Now He wants to Sell NNPC and Nigeria.We say No!