Connect with us

News

Malabu OPL 245 fraud: Adoke, Oil giants threatening us for demanding for justice – CSO

Published

on

The Chairman of HEDA Resource Centre, Olanrewaju Suraju has said that he has no regret whatsoever on the roles he played and is still playing on the ongoing trial of the Malabu OPL 245 scandal involving former Attorney General of Nigeria, Mohammed Bello Adoke and many others including oil giants, Shell and Eni, among other corruption cases in Nigeria.

Mr Suraju in an exclusive Interview with our Abuja Correspondent said that there has been a lot of threat to his life for been at the forefront of the demand for justice over the Malabu OPL 245 scandal, but he is not deterred and has the conviction that the greatest threat to Nigeria collective will and development is corruption.

He said that those that will possibly regret are those that see the civil society struggle as a source of living, but for him and others that have the struggle as a conviction, ‘’with the background of student activism, it is one of the things we signed before embarking on the venture. “

HEDA Chairman Mr Suraju praised the media and the civil society for their conscious effort to sustain the struggle for the eradication of corruption in Nigeria and maintained that without the effort, the political elite would have impoverished the country the most.

He described the petition to the Inspector General of Police against him, by Mr Adoke as ” a blatant attempt to silence me and HEDA and other organizations involved in the investigation by Adoke, but it failed, as we will keep digging deep and will not stop until all involved are exposed”

“Instead of investigating the facts, where an email was sent vie an email address linked to a company that Mr Adoke is aware of and evidence in the public domain, act of harassment and intimidation was deployed”

Recall that Mr Adoke sent a petition to the IGP’s office demanding a probe of email evidence presented against him by prosecutors in the Malabu trial in Milan, Italy.

The former attorney-general also complained to the police that some people, one of whom he suspected to be Mr Suraju, circulated a fake tape purporting it to be that of an interview he had with an Italian journalist admitting that the Malabu transaction was a scam.

Mr Suraju while reacting, said that the email in question had existed before they got involved in the investigation.

Mr Olanrewaju Suraju described the Malabu experience as the most remarkable experience for the civil society orgainzation and it is indeed a course we are committed for our future, “is a case we have been involved in for the past 20 years, involving five countries and a single contract that almost started from 1998 up until now and still on.”.. He said.

“It is a contract that has cost Nigerians about $15 billion which would have been the proceed from this single oil block for the country, but some of Nigerians who would have protected the interest of the country choose otherwise to protect the interest of the country for their selfish personal interest, at the end the country got only $ 250 Million from the deal, while individuals had gone away with $ 1.1 billion and at the same times private jets were bought and other luxury items when the country was at the need for the contract proceed for its greatest survival.”

Mr Suraju commended the EFCC for some of the ongoing prosecution in the country.

He described the judgment in Milan, Italy on constitution as unfortunate, but said there is still room for appeal.

On the claimed document forgery, the HEDA Chairman Olanrewaju Suraju, said that the document referred to in the petition against him, came into the public domain in late 2020, as part of the disclosures provided to a London court by JP Morgan. The bank is being sued in London by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for its involvement in the OPL 245 deal. The FRN subsequently included the document as part of its “Re-Re-Amended Particulars of Claim.”


In the claim, the Federal Republic of Nigeria stated that Adoke had sent an email from a yahoo.com email account, agroupproperties@yahoo.com, to Bayo Osolake, an employee of JP Morgan. Copies of the “OPL 245 Resolution Agreements” were attached to the email. At the date the email was sent – 21st June 2011 – the Resolution Agreements were highly confidential and would not come into the public domain for approximately another 5 months.

Suraja said that those that sent the email in question must have had privileged access to these documents which were confidential to those involved in the deal, not to mention access to the yahoo email account used to send the email. They must also have known which of the JP Morgan employees they needed to send the email to.

“The email address – agroupproperties@yahoo.com – according to court processes filed by the Federal Government was associated with “the A Group of Nigerian companies controlled by Mr Abubakar Aliyu.” One of the A Group companies – A Group Construction – received some of the OPL 245 funds, after they had been transferred by JP Morgan to Malabu Oil & Gas, the company that until the deal was concluded, owned the OPL 245 oil block.” Suruja said.

He said when he and his organization became aware of the existence of the email, “we believed it to be of relevance to the on-going prosecution of the OPL 245 trial in Milan. Thus, acting in the public interest, we together with our colleagues at Re: Common and The Corner House, formally notified the Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office about the FRN’s claims in the High Court in London.”

“The Milan Public Prosecutor then issued a European Investigation Order to the UK, asking for the email from JP Morgan. The UK authorities obtained the email, sending it on to Milan through the formal MLA channels, where it was accepted as evidence by the Milan Tribunal.”

Mr Suluja insisted that he had no role in the emergence of the email and interview in question and wondered when a Complaint becomes a Weapon of Harassment, a threat to Civic space, and to Nigeria’s Anti-corruption fight.

He maintained that the revelation so far and achievement of the resource center and others involved in the investigation and trial of this Malabu saga has so far revealed that the deal and corruption involved were not only Nigerians alone, but other foreign bodies and individuals around the world, just like a network.

The HEDA Chairman, said that part of the real threat to the whole process is lack of commitment on the part of principal actors in Nigeria, primarily emanating from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation for not properly coordinating the trials , as witnessed in UK and Italy and have constituted a source of embarrassment to the country.

The second threat is that the corruption in the system is yet over, both on the part of the past administration and the current administration, like the Ministers.

He made reference to the letter written to oil companies by Ibe Kachukwu, on conversation of the license’s from OPL to OML, but commended President Buhari for being firm to override that conversion process, from OPL to OML, pending the conclusion of all the trial, which has technically voided all the licence, which has made all the liceneces to be expired by the 11th of May, 2021.

Suluja urged Nigerian Media to be more involved both in the trial and prosecution, so that the ordinary citizens will be involved to know that this is not just like an ordinary oil licence, but this is like the natural resources of the country for which the citizens are made to benefit from, being stolen by some privileged individuals, “the profit sharing agreement we saw showed that the profit sharing contract was not signed, but what was signed was the profit sharing agreement and Nigeria was denied the profit of that agreement to the tune of $5.6 Billion. If the agreement would have gone on, Nigeria would have lost that $5.6 Billion”

The regret is that politicians override professional advice from Civil servants when taking decisions on some of these contracts, especially Ministers and other executive official appointees.

News

Kano gov’t calls for calm, says Appeal Court didn’t set aside judgment recognizing Sanusi as Emir of Kano

Published

on

Kano State Government has called for calm among residents, Friday’s Court of Appeal judgment did not set aside judgment recognizing Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano State.

The clarification was given on Saturday by the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Bar. Haruna Dederi, while addressing erroneous media report on the Court of Appeal judgment.

CAPITAL POST reported on Friday that tension gripped Kano State with security agents taking strategic position to quell any eventualities after the reported Court of Appeal judgment setting aside recognition of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Emir of Kano State.

Derideri however, explained that Aminu Babba Dan’Agundi, a party in the case who was dissatisfied with the Appeal Court’s ruling, had applied for a stay of execution pending the Supreme Court’s decision. The court granted the request, but this did not mean it had nullified its previous judgment.

“The Court of Appeal only ordered that the status quo be maintained; it did not set aside its judgment,” Dederi stated.

The State Attorney said: “On January 10, 2025, the Court of Appeal delivered a judgment upholding the repeal of the Kano Emirate Council Law, 2019, and setting aside the ruling of the Federal High Court, Kano, which had nullified actions taken by the Kano State Government under the Kano Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024.

“Dissatisfied with this decision, Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan’Agundi appealed to the Supreme Court of Nigeria and subsequently filed an application for a stay of execution of the Appeal Court’s judgment.

“The panel of justices granted the stay, pending the determination of the substantive appeal at the Supreme Court. This is a routine judicial procedure to maintain the status quo while an appeal is being heard.

“However, it is concerning to see misleading headlines and reports suggesting otherwise. These misrepresentations appear to be aimed at creating discord among Kano residents.”

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Court of Appeal did not set aside its judgment of January 10, 2025. That ruling remains valid and in effect until the Supreme Court delivers its verdict.

“The Kano State Government has instructed its legal team to study the situation and determine the next course of action in accordance with the law.”

The Commissioner warned against attempts to distort judicial processes and called for restraint to ensure peace and order in the state.

Continue Reading

News

BREAKING: Tension in Kano after Court of Appeal stops Emir Sanusi’s reinstatement

Published

on

The Court of Appeal which sat on Friday in Abuja stopped the reinstatement of Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, citing the lack of jurisdiction by Kano State High Court to entertain the matter.

A three-member panel of justices led by Justice Okon Abang unanimously averred that the decision by the Kano State High Court cannot be implemented as the question of jurisdiction was fundamental to a case before any Court of law.
The judgement, which was delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, held that the nullification of Sanusi II’s appointment was done without the required jurisdiction and ordered the transfer of the suit to the Kano State High Court.

However, ruling on the fresh applications with numbers CA/KN/27M/2025 and CA/KN/28M/2025, the appellate court agreed that the applications seeking to halt the enforcement of the earlier judgement pending the appeal before the Supreme Court were competent and meritorious.

“The law is settled. The court is enjoined to exercise its discretion judiciously and in the interest of justice,” he said.

Justice Abang also noted that the subject matter before the court needed to be preserved because the applicant had served as emir for five years before his removal, adding that he deserved the right to protection.
On January 10, Justice Kolawole, in vacating the order against Sanusi II’s appointment, held that the matter, being a chieftaincy dispute, ought to have been determined by the high court of Kano State rather than the Federal High Court, which he described as “a grave error”.

The Federal High Court in Kano, presided by Justice Abubakar Liman, had on June 20, 2024, nullified the Kano State Government’s Kano Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024, which reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir.

In the fundamental rights enforcement suit by Aminu Baba-Dan’Agundi, the presiding judge further directed parties, including the Kano State House of Assembly, to maintain the status quo during the reign of Emir Ado Bayero.

However, the appellate court in its ruling, cited Section 251 of the Nigerian Constitution and Section 22(2) of the Federal High Court Act to hold that the matter was a chieftaincy and state legislative dispute and not a fundamental rights matter, and such ought to have been taken before the Kano State High Court or the FCT High Court.

“The proper order to make is to order the 1st respondent (Baba-Dan’Agundi) to transfer the pending suit before the Federal High Court to the high court of Kano State where the chief judge shall assign it to a judge who has not been previously involved in the hearing of the suit,” he said.

The judge awarded the cost of N500,000 against Dan’Agundi and in favour of the Kano State House of Assembly.
However, following the opinions of the presiding justice, Justice Mohammed Mustapha and Justice Abdul Dogo that the right order was to strike out Dan’Agundi’s suit filed at the Federal High Court and not to transfer same, the matter was struck out.

The five appeals — CA/KN/126/2024 between the state assembly and Dan’Agundi; CA/ABJ/140/2023 state assembly and Dan’Agundi; CA/ABJ/142/2024 Kano State Government and Dan’Agundi; CA/KN/200/2024 Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and Attorney General of Kano State; and CA/KN/161/2020 Kano Government and Dan’Agundi emanated from the same issue before the Federal High Court.

CAPITAL POST reports that immediately the report of the Court of Appeal filtered in, tension began to build up around some areas in Kano through Emirate councils in some Local Government Areas.

The Police authority was yet to issue a word of caution at the time of the report, but fierce looking officers could be seen deployed to strategic areas in Kano in case of the breaking down of law and order.

Continue Reading

News

Enact building code for safety of lives – NIOB Chair to FG

Published

on

The Chairman of Nigeria Institute of Building (NIOB) Lagos State Chapter, Builder Thomas Adeoye, makes a passionate appeal to the federal government to enact the building code into law. This move, he believes, will bring about much-needed uniformity in building practices across the country, ultimately reducing the risk of building collapse and promoting public safety.

The appeal was made during the commemoration of the 8th Builders’ Day, held in collaboration with the Chairman of Ejigbo LCDA.

The 8th builders day celebration with the theme “Builders’ Role in Effective Building Control and Regulatory Compliance for Sustainable Construction,” Is aimed to raise awareness about the importance of safe building practices and reducing building collapse in the country.

Builder Thomas Adeoye commended the Lagos State Government for establishing the Certified Accreditors Program (CAP) while emphasizing the need for a collaborative effort to address the issue of building collapse.

He cited ignorance among suppliers of building materials, constructors, and professionals as a significant contributor to the problem.

” A lot of people out of ignorance dont really understand what is happening and it starts from everywhere, from the people that sells buildings materials, to the people that construct and the professionals, that’s the reason why we picked a marketplace because we need to enlighten the traders because building materials is part of what we use in construction. we’ve come to enlighten then on engaging the suppliers of building materials instead of buying inferior product ” He said

The event featured dignitaries from the institute, including Past Chairman Builder Sunday Wusu and Builder Salisu Harfiz while the Chairman of Ejigbo LCDA was represented by the council manager.

NIOB Public Relations Officer, Akingbade Adebola Israel, states that the Lagos State government is training professionals from different jurisdictions to monitor building and infrastructure across the state.

” Today’s is builders day and we are using this to mark what happened in Lagos Island about four years ago where school children died in a building collapse. Anyone can be a victim of building collapse because you’re not part of the construction, but when you’re renting a place you don’t know how it’s been built and we want to stop that” He said

The 8th Builders’ Day celebration serves as a call to action for stakeholders in the building industry to prioritize safe and sustainable building practices, ensuring the protection of lives and property.

Continue Reading

Trending


Address: 1st Floor, Nwakpabi Plaza, Suite 110, Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, Apo, Abuja
Tel: +234 7036084449; +234 7012711701
Email: capitalpost20@gmail.com | info@capitalpost.ng
Copyright © 2025 Capital Post