Friday, 20 December 2019 05:35

Nigeria's ex-attorney general held by EFCC over $1.3 billion oil deal

Rate this item
(0 votes)

Nigeria’s former attorney general was detained by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) upon his return home on Thursday, the commission said in a statement, as part of an investigation into one of the oil industry’s biggest suspected corruption scandals.

Mr Mohammed Adoke was arrested by Interpol in November after travelling to Dubai for a medical appointment. He voluntarily flew back to the West African country on Thursday, his lawyer said.

EFCC’s investigation relates to the $1.3 billion (£999.54 million) sale of a Nigerian offshore oilfield known as OPL 245 by Malabu Oil and Gas in 2011.

Eni SpA (ENI.MI) and Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSa.L) jointly acquired the field from Malabu, which was owned by former petroleum minister Dan Etete.

The sale of the oil field has spawned legal cases across several countries, involving Nigerian government officials and senior executives from Eni and Royal Dutch Shell.

Shell and Eni, and their executives, have denied any wrongdoing. Etete has also denied wrongdoing.

“His return to Nigeria clears the way for him to answer to the charges against him,” EFCC said in a statement, following Adoke’s return to Nigeria.

Adoke’s lawyer, Mr Mike Ozekhome, said the former attorney general was released by Interpol and Dubai authorities after “finding nothing criminal against him.”

“Our client remains very confident that he will be vindicated in the court of law and justice at the end of the day, after a free and fair trial,” Ozekhome said in a written statement.

Adoke served as attorney general from 2010 to 2015.

Ozekhome previously said his client had appeared in court in Nigeria in the past over the OPL 245 case and was exonerated.

 

Reuters

December 04, 2024

Entrepreneur turns Nigerian superfood into global export business

Interview with Timi Oke CO-FOUNDER and CEO, AGROEKNOR Timi Oke is the co-founder and CEO…
December 04, 2024

Namibia elects first female president

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of Namibia's ruling SWAPO party has been elected president and will be the…
December 04, 2024

‘Brain rot’ is Oxford English Dictionary’s word of 2024

Oxford University Press (OUP), the publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary, has announced Brain rot…
November 30, 2024

Family spends $4,500 on lavish funeral for ‘faithful’ SUV

An Indian family recently went viral for their decision to send their old Suzuki Wagon…
December 03, 2024

EFCC secures ‘single largest asset forfeiture’ of Abuja housing estate by court order from unnamed…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the final forfeiture of an estate…
December 04, 2024

What to know after Day 1014 of Russia-Ukraine war

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE Putin points to mass human rights violations, persecution of Church in Ukraine Mass…
November 29, 2024

Mixed reactions as Australia bans social media use for children under 16

Australians reacted on Friday with a mixture of anger and relief to a social media…
October 27, 2024

Nigeria awarded 3-0 win over Libya after airport fiasco

Nigeria have been awarded a 3-0 victory over Libya, and three vital points, from their…

NEWSSCROLL TEAM: 'Sina Kawonise: Publisher/Editor-in-Chief; Prof Wale Are Olaitan: Editorial Consultant; Femi Kawonise: Head, Production & Administration; Afolabi Ajibola: IT Manager;
Contact Us: [email protected] Tel/WhatsApp: +234 811 395 4049

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 NewsScroll. All rights reserved.