Reps Insist Jonathan May Be Invited Over Malabu Oil Deal

[caption id="attachment_18866" align="alignnone" width="640"]Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan[/caption]

The House of Representatives has said that they may invite former President Goodluck Jonathan “to assist it with its inquiries”, in the controversial award of OPL 245 oil block licence.

The lawmakers in a statement by the Chairman of the House Committee on Justice, Razak Atunwa, said efforts are in place to invite the former president to testify on the $1.3 billion Malabu oil deal.

The money was paid by oil giants, Shell and ENI, for the oil block, one of the richest in Africa. About $1.1 billion of the money was paid directly into a Nigerian government account while about $200 million had been earlier paid by Shell.

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Most of the $1.1 billion ended up in private accounts with a large chunk going into the account of Dan Etete, a former petroleum minister who was convicted for money laundering in France. A large part of that sum is believed to have gone to officials of Mr. Jonathan’s government including Mohammed Adoke, the then attorney general.

Jonathan on Tuesday dismissed reports that he received $200m as kick-back from the said deal.

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

However, Rep Atunwa said on Wednesday, that Jonathan’s testimony in the ongoing investigation was important.

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The statement reads: “The House of Representatives, by a Resolution taken at Plenary set up and mandated this Committee to, inter alia, conduct a thorough examination of the process and circumstances surrounding OPL 245 and identify culpability of any persons, groups or organizations.

“The committee is aware of recent information that have come to light, both nationally and internationally, indicating that former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan may have been complicit in the controversial OPL 245 deal.

“The committee is also closely monitoring the proceedings in the Italian Courts instituted by the Public Prosecutor of Milan in which Ministers in Jonathan Administration were mentioned including President Jonathan himself.

“These facts have firmly placed former President Goodluck Jonathan on the Committee’s radar. The committee believes that former President Goodluck Jonathan may well be in a position to assist it with its inquiries.

“Accordingly, the Committee is considering inviting him to give evidence before it. An announcement will be made once a formal firm decision is taken on the matter. The Committee intends to be meticulous, thorough and comprehensive in its inquiry so as to bring about finality to this seemingly intractable matter.”

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