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Malabu OPL 245 fraud: Adoke, Oil giants threatening us for demanding for justice – CSO
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.
TEXT OF THE BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES, DECLARING STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS STATE ON TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2025
Fellow Nigerians, I feel greatly disturbed at the turn we have come to regarding the political crisis in Rivers State. Like many of you, I have watched with concern the development with the hope that the parties involved would allow good sense to prevail at the soonest, but all that hope burned out without any solution to the crisis.
With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance, which we have all fought and worked for over the years, can thrive in a way that will redound to the benefit of the good people of the state. The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started, with the good people of the state not being able to have access to the dividends of democracy.
Also, it is public knowledge that the Governor of Rivers State for unjustifiable reasons, demolished the House of Assembly of the state as far back as 13th December 2023 and has, up until now, fourteen (14) months after, not rebuilt same. I have made personal interventions between the contending parties for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties to the crisis. I am also aware that many well-meaning Nigerians, Leaders of thought and Patriotic groups have also intervened at various times with the best of intentions to resolve the matter, but all their efforts were also to no avail. Still, I thank them.
On February 28, 2025, the supreme court, in a judgment in respect of about eight consolidated appeals concerning the political crisis in Rivers State, based on several grave unconstitutional acts and disregard of rule of law that have been committed by the Governor of Rivers State as shown by the evidence before it pronounced in very clear terms:
“a government cannot be said to exist without one of the three arms that make up the government of a state under the 1999 Constitution as amended. In this case the head of the executive arm of the government has chosen to collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot. As it is there is no government in Rivers State.”
The above pronouncement came after a catalogue of judicial findings of constitutional breaches against the Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Going Forward in their judgment, and having found and held that 27 members of the House who had allegedly defected
“are still valid members of Rivers State House of Assembly and cannot be prevented from participating in the proceedings of that House by the 8th Respondent (that is, the Governor) in cohorts with four members”
The Supreme Court then made some orders to restore the state to immediate constitutional democracy. These orders include the immediate passing of an Appropriation Bill by the Rivers State House of Assembly which up till now has not been facilitated.
Some militants had threatened fire and brimstone against their perceived enemy of the governor who has up till now NOT disowned them.
Apart from that both the House and the governor have not been able to work together.
Both of them do not realise that they are in office to work together for the peace and good governance of the state.
The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militant without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course given stern order to the security agencies to ensure safety of lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines.
With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will standby and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security.
In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State having failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th March, 2025 and I so do.
By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.
In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.
The Administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the state.
This declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette, a copy of which has been forwarded to the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution. It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.
Long live a united, peaceful, secure and democratic Rivers State in particular and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a whole.
The Plateau state government has expressed concern over violence in Shimankar (Menkaat), Shendam Local Government Area, of the State which unfortunately caused unnecessary tension within the community.
In a statement by the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon Joyce Lohya Ramnap, made available to journalists in Jos, it condemned in strongest terms and warned such violence would not be tolerated any longer.
The statement called for dialogue to differences and disagreement before it snowballed into violence, adding that government will not allow anyone to undermine peace and unity of the State.
Part of the statement read: “I want to reiterate the Plateau State Government’s unwavering commitment to upholding peace and security for all citizens, especially during such tense moments.”
Acknowledging the swift response of law enforcement agencies and the traditional institutions in containing the situation, we are calling for even greater collaboration between community leaders, security agencies, and the public to prevent further escalation,thus the need to maintain peace, calm and restraint from all parties.
“We urge the people of the community to pursue peaceful resolutions to any disagreements instead of resorting to violence.”
In line with the administration’s “Time is Now” vision under the leadership of Governor Mutfwang, I want to emphasise that the state is focused on ensuring lasting peace and harmony, irrespective of religious or tribal differences.
Government is also assuring the public that security agencies have been instructed to conduct a thorough investigation into the root causes of the skirmishes and to ensure that those responsible for any breach of public peace are held accountable.
Towards this end, Plateau citizens are to remain vigilant yet peaceful and to actively support all efforts to de-escalate the situation as the State Government is committed to fostering a peaceful coexistence for all citizens, the statement further reads.
As protest rocks Benue State against the Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpembese for relocating the Benue Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal from Makurdi to Abuja, Governor Hyacinth Alia has distanced himself from the protest.
Protesters in their hundreds from Benue State took to the streets of Abuja on Monday, for a peaceful protest from the National Assembly to the Supreme Court to express their outrage over the Benue CJ’s decision.
Prior to Monday’s massive protest Justice Ikpembese raised security concerns and moved the Tribunal to Abuja, a development that triggered protest as they are saying the Tribunal would have remained in Makurdi for them to monitor proceedings.
The tribunal is currently handling disputes arising from the Benue State Local Government elections conducted on October 5, 2024.
Reports indicate that 93 petitioners, including aggrieved candidates from both the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, have filed cases at the tribunal since October 17, 2024.
The Benue State Government, through the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Mr. Fidelis Mnyim, had questioned the CJ’s unilateral decision, noting that neither the governor nor his office had been formally notified.
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