FG solicits US, UK, Italy legal assistance on Malabu oil deal

Federal Government is soliciting for mutual legal assistance from the United States, Italy and the United Kingdom in its bid to unravel the mystery surrounding the award of OPL 245 oil bloc.

Abubakar Malami, minister of justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), said this when he appeared before the Ad hoc Committee investigating the alleged corruption, malpractices and breach of due process in the award of OPL 245, held at the National Assembly complex, Abuja.

Malami, who gave the clarification at the meeting attended by Mohammed Sani Abacha and Oyewole Fashawe, noted that the contentions over the Malabu oil transaction posed a great challenge.

The minister explained that the investigations that would enable him make the needed submission was still ongoing, saying the contentions were within parties in Malabu oil involving Mohammed Sani Abacha and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, among several others.

“Contention within Malabu oil has made it difficult. As I stand before you, the investigation is still ongoing. Only yesterday I forwarded a request to the United States as regards Malabu oil deal. Also, civil and criminal cases are still going on in Nigeria.

“No judgement or conclusion can be made as relating to the request the committee has made on Malabu oil. It is complicated due to the multiple agencies involved,” he said.

He explained that multiple requests had been sent internationally for Mutual Legal Assistance from the US, Italy and the UKover the Malabu case and multiple interests had been expressed both locally and internationally.

Malami, who read the 16-page documents however failed to handover the document to the Committee, expressed constraint in providing further details on the issues, stressing that “what I say might alter the conclusion of the case.”

On his part, Abdullahi Haruna, Malabu’s lawyer who spoke on behalf of the two shareholders, Mohammed Abacha and Oyewole Fasawe, said they had submitted documents to the seventh House on the same issue and wanted to know if they needed to start afresh.

While speaking, Abdulrazak Atunwa, chairman of the Ad hoc Committee who disagreed with the AGF on the stance of the House, explained that the Committee was mandated to identify legal actions that could be taken to recover monies lost through the transaction.

“The powers of the former minister to award the oil bloc in not unfettered. The House has the power to examine,” he said.

Atunwa, who reiterated the resolve of the 8th Assembly decision to revisit the Malabu oil transaction, noted that transaction “is a highly controversial allocation of perhaps the biggest oil bloc in Africa. There is a lot at stake on this issue and the credibility and revenue for this country is at stake.

“However complex the situation may be the law is able to deal with it. The House is also able to make enquiries and make recommendation on the matter.”

The chairman however adjourned sitting to enable all parties provide the needed information to enable the Committee carry out its investigation in the transaction.