The silence
has finally ended. The federal government has spoken on the emerging allegation
of its complicity with convicted former oil minister Dan Etete of Malabu Oil
over the fraudulent transfer of block OPL 245 to Shell/Agip in a deal worth
over N155 billion.
Online
newspaper Premium Times had broken to Nigerians and indeed the rest of the
world a tale of corruption, the bane of Nigeria’s progress. In the tale,
discovered from the newspaper’s investigative reporting, former oil minister
Dan Etete had formed along with Mohammed Abacha and one Alhaji Aliyu a new oil
company Malabu Oil. The tale revealed that few days after its incorporation,
Malabu Oil had acquired oil block OPL245. Malabu group then made SNUD its
technical partner as required by law. The acquisition of block OPL245 was
however illegal and its award to Malabu had been reversed by the Obasanjo
administration with the disputed property awarded to Shell/Agip. Somehow, the
federal government reversed itself under the Jonathan administration and
re-awarded the block to Malabu while prompting Shell/Agip to remit the sum of
N155 billion to it. When this sum was paid to the federal government, it was
then transferred to Malabu Oil on the direct orders of the president. The funds
in Malabu Oil accounts though Premium Times reveals further has since found its
way into the accounts of persons in the Nigerian government.
The government
silence ended with Adoke Bello, Attorney General of the Federation making a
press release where the government’s version of the tale was offered. According
to the AGF, the government ordered the payment as an obligator and released the
same funds to Malabu Oil to resolve a long standing dispute over block OPL245.
Striking are the
issues raised from the admissions of the attorney general. The federal
government now acts as an obligator for a convicted criminal Dan Etete and his
Malabu Oil. The said oil block in question was mentioned repeatedly in Etete’s
trial in France and also mentioned in his appeal in the same country. Another
curious issue is the obvious intent to mislead the public. Malabu Oil awarded
itself the oil block because its principal had been a government minister
capable of making such decisions to favour him personally. A policy in place to
encourage indigenous capability in the end is defeated. How does transferring
the right of an indigenous oil exploration license to a foreign company already
enmeshed in the Nigerian upstream sector favour indigenous capability?
Shell and Agip
the foreign oil companies involved have stated clearly that they had no intent
of making any payments to Malabu Oil. Why was the fund paid to Malabu when these
companies in question are obviously not unable to make payments to Malabu
directly? Since when did the federal government become Western Union?
Another issue
noted is the intent of the federal government to silence the EFCC’s attempt to
investigate the matter further. If the EFCC describes Mr. Aliyu another partner
in Etete’s Malabu Oil as Mr. Corruption, should not federal government have
emulated Pontius Pilate? Another worrying concern is the fact that the payment
in question was made hurriedly before incumbent finance minister Ngozi Okonjo Iweala assumed
office. Why was there such a rush?
In certain
climes, allegations like these are taken seriously. Not in Nigeria at least.
The Senate through its spokesman, Eyinnaya Abaribe who coincidentally happens
to be a member of the senate committee on the upstream sector has described the
allegations as ‘newspaper reports’ and has said there will be no investigations
into the matter. We fail to see why newspaper reports on matters of graft
should not be investigated by another arm of government. The Nigerian Senate
under the watch of David Mark is fast earning a reputation for being a
collaborator in the industry running a thoroughly corrupt regime.
While the
Senate has chosen to turn a deaf ear on the issue in question, the lower house
may again prove to be a truly independent arm of government as there are
indications that members have begun taking a serious interest and indeed have
begun investigating the matter privately. It will not be long before the matter
is raised on the floor of that house.
In just a year
gone by, tales of such awful performance by the Jonathan administration has
become rather disheartening especially on matters of corruption. This deal was
rash and hush, but the dust it has raised will not be settled in a rash and
hush manner unless a scheme to silence it can be hatched quickly. The
implications are far reaching and could alter the political landscape if
pursued correctly by the legislative arms of government. But then again, this
is Nigeria run by a man so lucky to land himself the presidency and luckier in
running himself into this murky water. How the matters will be resolved is presently
unknown as the hornet’s nest appears to have been shaken only a little.
Every day, the
number of the pro Goodluck faithful records an immense backslide. This does not
matter though to his party as they have vowed to capture this country for the next
50 years.
Whatever
happens, you can count on us to provide commentary on issues as they unfold.
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