Malabu Scandal: Court Orders FG To Return OPL 245 To Shell, ENI
A Federal High Court in Abuja has reversed its previous ruling on which it retrieved the control of one of Nigeria’s largest oil blocks, OPL 245, from Shell and ENI.
The court had on January 26, issued an order, following a motion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), retrieving the ownership of the oil block from the multinational companies, to the Federal Government.
The anti-graft agency claimed the oil companies fraudulently acquired the block in 1998 with the funds not remitted to the government.
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The EFCC asked the court to temporarily return the oil well to the government while it continued its investigation, which the court granted.
The trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, adjourned the case to Friday after Malabu Oil and Gas filed an application to join the matter.
The companies, Shell and Eni contended the judgement telling the court that fair hearing was not followed before the verdict.
They prayed the court to reverse the order, and allow the parties address the issue, legally.
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Justice Tsoho then reversed his order and also refused the application of Malabu oil and gas to join the matter.
