Malabu Oil Scandal: Jonathan Rebuffs Reports He Got $200m Bribe

Jonathan, in a statement signed by his media adviser, Ikechukwu Eze said the allegation is a “series of fake news” sponsored by those threatened by his “continuously rising profile in the international community.”

The report “relied on hearsay evidence from a man of questionable character who provided no substance to back up his false claim,” Eze said.

According to him, the man quoted by the report said he “assumed’ that Jonathan would be bribed.”

Eze further dismissed claim that Jonathan and former Minister of Petroleum, Dan Etete had known each other for years, when the former President served as a tutor to Etete’s children while he was a minister.

It was reported yesterday that a House of Representatives panel chaired by Rep Razak Atunwa (APC, Kwara) is considering summoning the former president over the award Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245.

“In the first place, the former President couldn’t have been a ‘tutor’ to Etete’s children without first establishing contact with the family. This is because Jonathan met Etete who served as the Petroleum Minister in Gen. Abacha’s military regime for the first time under the succeeding civilian administration, when he was already the deputy Governor of Bayelsa State. Even then, the fact remains that ex-President Jonathan has never met any of Etete’s children”, Eze said.

“It is instructive that this same old fable apparently intended to rubbish Jonathan’s name locally and internationally, is being recycled with more lies added to garnish the narrative, at a time the ex-President is making efforts to resolve the issues in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

“While in office and now that he is out of office, former President Jonathan did not open and does not own any bank account, aircraft or real estate outside Nigeria. Anyone with contrary information is challenged to publicly publish same.”

Eze appealed to the media to report facts rather than gossip, adding that “Dr. Jonathan cannot stop criminals from ‘assuming’, but he can and he will stop them from getting away with blatant lies.”

Justice John Tshoho of the Federal High Court Abuja on Tuesday fixed May 18 for hearing of plaintiffs application on the case.

The application was made ex-parte by plaintiff for leave of court to serve writ of summons on the 3rd defendant.

The case is between the Federal Government, Anglo-Dutch oil giant, Royal Dutch Shell, ENI and some former minsters.

OPL245 is considered one of Nigeria’s richest oil blocks and estimated to contain over 9 billion barrels of crude.