Jonathan distances self from Malabu Oil deal
Former President Goodluck Jonathan PHOTO: Philip Ojisua
• IYC urges government to stop probe
• Inquiry planned to witch-hunt N’Delta, says group
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has denied media reports that he received gratification before approving the controversial Malabu Oil deal.
A statement by his spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, in Abuja yesterday said Jonathan did not send a businessman, Abubakar Aliyu, or any other person to receive a bribe on his behalf during or after the negotiation.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to news reports published mostly by online media which insinuated, rather than presenting factual evidence, that Jonathan received kickbacks in the $1.3bn OPL 245 oil block involving oil giants ENI and Royal Dutch Shell.
“We wish to make it clear that Jonathan was not accused, indicted or charged for corruptly receiving any money as kickbacks or bribes from ENI by the Italian authorities or any other law enforcement body in the world.
“We wish to state that the negotiations and transactions for the oil block predated the Jonathan’s presidency, which began on May 6, 2010 and ended on May 29, 2015. It may interest those promoting this false narrative to also know that the documents relating to the transactions are in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.”
The spokesman further stated that Jonathan did not hold any secret meeting with the parties in the transaction, nether did anybody work for him.
“As President of Nigeria, Jonathan met with the executives of all the oil majors operating in the country to solicit support in the oil industry,” the statement added.
He urged the media to use the Freedom of Information Act, which Jonathan signed into law, to investigate stories before publication.
Meanwhile, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has urged the Federal Government to stop an investigation into the Malabu oil deal.
The group’s President, Udengs Eradiri said in an interview that it was designed to witch-hunt the Niger Delta region, because an Ijaw man was involved.
According to him, it was worrisome that other oil blocks that were awarded through the same process were exempted from a similar probe.
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7 Comments
Hmmm. The OPL 245 deal. It looks like s**t. It smells like s**t. It is s**t.
When it comes to oil blocks owned by Niger Deltans, problems will always arise!
I like IYC for supporting all despicable elements and corrupted politicians from Niger Delta. In fact, they prefer that Ijaw politicians should just walk into treasurer and loot the money, no question ask. Why, they are all slave to their politicians and militant leaders. They have always seen politics has a way to be very rich and Buhari is the problem. None of politician has or would invest a dollar is their backwards kingdom yet they okay monthly welfare money from Abuja. These youths always amazed with their public demand. Never have they demanded for jobs because those bums do not want to work. They will rather party every evening at various joints that littered their states than do anything. They will grow like their leaders who do nothing but patronized the government for money.
This Yinka of a person must be one of those praying for the extermination of the Niger Delta region. This is seemingly so because your utterances here clearly depicts such. If the IYC is not right in it’s position in relation to the selective investigation of fraud, then have you bothered to ask why nobody from the northern region or from APC is being investigated for the same purported financial crimes? Stop the hate and say the truth.
Even though he has drunk his brain off and his trulla Patience beautiful, Ogogoro Johnny is really not that stupid.
Does anyone really believe, he says: Yes, I have stolen one billion of dollars!
It is through investigation that truth can be revealed… government should proceed on it
These Ijaw people must realise that we cannot condone criminal impunity in the due process. What has this chap to hide? Udengs should be arrested and aske to explain why the probe should not proceed. If other deals are suspect, they too will not escape the due probity before the law of the nation. The Ijaws should follow the exemplary Jonathan, the most dignified Nigerian so far, in the image of Yakubu Gowon.
We will review and take appropriate action.