THE Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, yesterday, told the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on alleged corruption, malpractices and breach of due process in the award of OPL 245, that there was no sufficient evidence yet to convict the former AGF, Mohammed Adoke; ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke; and former Finance Minister, Olusegun Aganga, over the $1.092 billion Malabu oil deal.
The AGF said investigation was ongoing on the matter and that it was not possible for him to jump to the conclusion of indictment. According to him, the investigation is from different perspectives because of alleged criminality, breach of contract and associated elements.
This is as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in its submission, said it was not party to the agreement on OPL 245, adding that it was the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, that could answer questions relating to issues on the Malabu transaction.
C’ttee flays Adeosun for non- appearance
The committee also frowned on the inability of the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, to attend the hearing and ordered that she must attend today’s hearing by all means, particularly as her predecessor was involved in the issue.
Malami, who spoke at the Rasak Atunwa-led Ad-hoc Committee on the alleged corruption, malpractices and breach of due process in the award of OPL 245, told the committee that efforts to ensure the former AGF appeared had not yielded any positive result, regretting that he was only sending correspondences.
He said: “I can’t with certainty jump into the conclusion of indictment. The former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, has not made himself available, though he has made written submissions to the ministry.”
Fielding questions on the opening of an escrow account by Adoke, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and Olusegun Aganga over the $1.092 billion Malabu oil deal, Malami said the payment of $1.092 billion was fraudulent as it should have been paid into the Federation Account or the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
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