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Tag: Adoke

  • How Jonathan’s trusted aides dumped him, contributed money for Buhari’s campaign in 2015 – Ex-AGF Adoke

    A former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Mohammed Adoke (SAN) has opened fresh can of worms on how former President Goodluck Jonathan’s trusted hands dumped him and contributed money to the campaign of the then presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    The former AGF also revealed roles played by allies of former president in making him concede defeat to President Buhari.

    In an interview with Premium Times, Adoke said Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, the ex-President’s former Special Adviser (SA) on Domestic Affairs, took the lead role in convincing him to accept the outcome of the election.

    Recall that Jonathan, who lost to Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had called to congratulate his opponent before the final results were announced.

    Adoke said while some close aides of Dr Jonathan advised him to concede defeat, some others kicked against it.

    The former AGF said it was while some of them were contemplating how to meet the ex-President to urge him to concede defeat that Dafuda took the lead.

    “The (former) President was visibly agitated, like any other person would be. No President wants to be defeated because that is a referendum on his tenure.

    “So, it was at that point, when the ex-President was still agitated that a fine young man, the Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Matters, Dudafa, shouted from the back and said: ‘Daddy, we are leaving here (Aso Rock) on May 29’.

    “That gave us the impetus to now approach the ex-President: myself, Osita (Chidoka) and Dudafa. We stooped before him and started counselling him; we said: ‘Mr President, what do you want to be remembered for?’ So, he stood up crisply, went to his study and placed the call to President Buhari to make the concession,” Adoke said.

    The former AGF also spoke of how Mrs Patience Jonathan, wife of the former President, abused him when her husband’s defeat was imminent.

    Adoke said he remained loyal to Dr Jonathan, even when some of those in the administration then “were contributing money” for Buhari’s campaign.

    “It is true that I was abused by the President’s wife. This happened on March 30, a day before the concession,” he said.

    “I don’t blame the ex-President’s wife. I respect her as a person and I appreciate the fact that she voiced out her frustration and anger at me.

    “That was better than those who pretend to be friends but would go to the (then) President to say: ‘Your Attorney General is not with you; your Attorney General is an APC member; he has sympathy for President Buhari. He is a Buhari boy’.

    “In any case, most of those who were talking were the same people who contributed money for Buhari’s campaign. I, Mohammed Bello Adoke, never contributed money to Buhari’s campaign,” he added.

    The former minister made some revelations about the trial of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a stalwart of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    He said a lawyer close to Asiwaju Tinubu played a huge role in the trial.

    Adoke said: “Let me clarify this issue very well. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s trial took place, it was his case with Code of Conduct Tribunal. It was a very unfortunate thing. But what most people don’t know is that a lot of people who claimed to be close to Asiwaju Tinubu, a particular human rights lawyer, was the one that engineered that trial.”

  • Malabu Oil: Court orders arrest of ex-AGF Adoke, Etete, others

    Justice Musa Senchi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Jabi has ordered the arrest of former Ministers of Justice and Petroleum Resources – Mohammed Adoke and Deazia Louya Etete (aka Dan Elete).

    The judge equally ordered the arrest of Raph Wezels, Casula Roberto, Pujato Stefeno and Burrato Sebastino, who are senior officials of Shell, Agip and Eni SPA.

    The order for their arrest was issued by the judge upon an ex-parte application argued on Wednesday by Aliyu Yusuf, a Director in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The five are said to be linked to the monumental fraud associated with the notorious Malabu Oil deal and for which a three-count charge has now been filed against them and their companies before the court.

  • Court stops Adoke’s 1.1bn Malabu deal trial

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped further prosecution of former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister for Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) over alleged fraud in the Malabu oil deal.

    Justice Murtala Nyako on Friday ruled that Adoke’s involvement in the Malabu deal over the OPL 245 was in furtherance of lawful directives and approvals of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the exercise of his presidential powers as enshrined in the Constitution.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 20, 2016 filed nine count charges against Adoke, former Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete, and businessman, Aliyu Abubakar over allegations of diversion of $1.1 billion proceeds of the deal from an escrow account to private companies.

    The companies are: Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, Rocky Top Resources Limited, Imperial Union Limited, Novel Properties and Development Limited, Group Construction Limited and Mega Tech Engineering Limited.

    Adoke had approached the court in the enforcement of his fundamental rights against the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) through his counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN) contending that he acted in furtherance of presidential powers contained in Section 5(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

  • Malabu Oil deal: AGF Malami writes Buhari, seeks immediate suspension of Adoke, Diezani’s trial

    Malabu Oil deal: AGF Malami writes Buhari, seeks immediate suspension of Adoke, Diezani’s trial

    The Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF Abubakar Malami, has written to President Muhammadu Buhari stating in details why the federal government must suspend the trials of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke and former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke; both principal actors in the controversial Malabu Oil deal.

    Recall that the raging scandal over the OPL 245 oil block began in 2011 when the Goodluck Jonathan administration allegedly approved its purchase by Shell and Agip-Eni from Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd., a suspected briefcase firm with ties to Dan Etete, Nigeria’s petroleum minister from 1995 to 1998.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been pursuing fraud and criminal conspiracy charges against Mr. Adoke, Mr. Etete and their alleged accomplices since 2016. Messrs. Adoke and Etete are believed to be at large, and the anti-graft agency had repeatedly sought to fish them out.

    However, Adoke, Etete, Alison-Madueke and all other officials named in the scandal have denied wrongdoings.

    Adoke in his defence had insisted that the sale was approved to save Nigeria from huge financial losses that could arise from international arbitration lawsuits.

    In his letter to the president, Malami explained that following due examination of the case files, he was able to determine that the EFCC has no significant evidence to prove its allegations of sharp practices against prominent players like Bello Adoke, Diezani Alison-Madueke and others.

    Besides, Malami noted that the Nigerian government risks being portrayed before the international community and foreign investors as an unserious country that could not be trusted to live up to its obligations to international partners

    “Clearly, potential investors will not have the confidence to invest in Nigeria if the government of the country is perceived as one which does not honour its commitments,” Mr. Malami said of the OPL 245 oil deal which was approved by at least three former Nigerian Attorney-Generals.

    The September 27, 2017 letter advised the president to pursue Nigeria’s possible investment in the disputed oil blocks rather than trying to repossess it or prosecute former Nigerian government officials or Shell or Agip-Eni chiefs involved in the deal.

    Read full letter below:

    RE: FORWARDING OF CASE FILE IN RESPECT OF CHARGE NO. FHC/ABJ/CR/268/17 AND FCT/HC/CR/124/2017 MALABU OIL & GAS LTD

    May I refer Your Excellency to the above subject matter, please.

    2. This case file was received from the EFCC in a letter dated 21st December, 2016 for vetting and further directive. Having fully examined the entire case file I am inclined to request you to note the following and direct accordingly.

    3. A curious observation of the entire Malabu story clearly indicates that there are the civil and criminal aspects to the case.

    4. The civil aspect bothers on the skirmishes between the directors of the company which led to the claims that shares of the same directors were divested without their consent thereby taking over their interest. Having examined the cases it is important to note that the cases are pending before the courts and therefore sub-judice; the FGN should await the outcome of the cases- Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/201/2017 MALABU OIL & GAS LTD vs. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA AND & 6 ORS; and Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/206/2017 MALABU OIL & GAS LTD vs. MR KWEKU AMAFAGHA & 9 ORS.

    5. In the criminal case, the aggrieved parties through their lawyers petitioned the EFCC against some directors of Malabu Oil and Gas alleging fraudulent divestment of their shares and subsequently depriving them of their benefits in the sale of OPL 245. EFCC investigated the case and filed nine-count charge dated 16th September, 2016.

    6. Attached to the charge are a proof of evidence, case summary and list of witnesses in support of the counts which bother on fraud, conspiracy and money laundering.

    Regarding the criminal charge. Your Excellency is invited to note that the charge as presently constituted may most likely not succeed against the parties for the following reasons:

    a. There is nothing to show that the parties as constituted were at all times working together and having a ‘meeting of minds’ to wit; to forge CAC documents and use same for the purpose of divesting the shares of the complainants and thereafter, enter into a settlement agreement with FGN and other parties to take delivery of the proceeds of sale of OPL 245.

    b. There is also nothing in the proof of evidence to support the charge money laundering and it is therefore impossible for the prosecution to prove the elements which include illicit funds, transfer for such through various channels to re-introduce same again into the regular financial system as legitimate funds in financial institutions etc. Without the express proof of these elements, the count may not be sustained on the premise of the attached proof of evidence.

    c. The EFCC investigation and attached proof of evidence do not appear to have clearly revealed the case of fraud against the parties who claimed to have acted in their official capacities with the approval of three consecutive presidents of the federal government of Nigeria at the time with further claim that the matter was intended to be resolved in national interest thereby saving the nation acrimonious litigations resulting in high legal fees and the dormancy of the oil field while litigation lasted.

    d. In this regard, the Public Officers Protection Act CAP P41 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 limits liability of Public Officers to a period of three months much naturally come to mind considering their claim that the acts which are complained of were authorised by the three presidents before this current administration.

    7.”Your Excellency, the beneficial approach I counsel in the circumstances is for the federal government to take advantage of the terms of the agreement under clauses five and 11 to acquire a stake in the OPL 245 converting it to a production sharing contract (PSC) between FGN/NNPC, Shell and Agip after negotiating with the ENI/Shell to absorb the cost of the FGN/NNPC entry under the said clauses five and 11 through the PSC mechanism,” Mr. Malami said.

    8. The idea of revisiting the settlement agreement which resulted in the sale of the oil field to SNUD, SNEPCO and NAE is not workable. It is important in this regard for His Excellency to note the following:

    a. The agreement was executed by the highest authority in Nigeria and remains sacrosanct unless it is eventually set aside by the decision of a competent court of law and denying the parties immediate benefit of reaping the fruit of their investments. The agreement has its mechanism for compensation in the event of any of the rights conferred to ENI or SHELL are challenged or violated. For the FGN to revisit the agreement, the consent of Shell and ENI will be required.

    It is very unlikely that the consent will easily be obtained but rather they would rely on the protection afforded in the contract, and any unilateral effort by FGN to vary the terms of the agreement would probably open up a new bout of litigation, deter further investment, give rise to a claim for damages and payment of huge legal fees. Your Excellency may wish to note some of the FGN’s representations and assurances in the clauses 12, 13 and 17 of the agreement.

    “12. FGN confirms that the terms of this FGN resolution agreement have been agreed by all the appropriate agencies of the FGN including the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Inland Revenue Service.’

    “13. FGN acknowledges that, in entering into this FGN resolution agreement, the other parties have relied on its expressed or implied representation before the signature of this FGN resolution agreement regarding the efficacy of the terms thereof.”

    “17. FGN shall indemnify, save and hold harmless, and defend SNUD, SNEPCO and NAE from and against all suits, proceedings, claims, demands losses and liability of any nature or kind, including, but not limited to, oil litigation costs, attorneys’ fees, settlement payments, damages, and all other related costs and expenses, based on, arising out of, related to or in connection with: (i) this FGN resolution agreement. (ii) the resolution agreement/ (iii) the issuance of the oil prospecting license in respect of Block 245 jointly in the name of SNEPCO and NAE and arising out of any asserted prior interest in Block 245.”

    9. The above commitments are binding on the FGN. ENI/Shell legitimately expects that the FGN would respect the commitments. Failure by the FGN to respect them would cast Nigeria in a very bad light internationally and negatively impact the FGN’s quest for foreign investments. Clearly, potential investors will not have the confidence to invest in Nigeria if the government of the country is perceived as one which does not honour its commitments (captured in an agreement signed by three of its ministers).

    10. ENI/Shell claims to have invested in excess of US $2.5 billion in OPL 245 from 2011 to date and as such would seek the protection of international law, including applicable investment treaties which prohibit the unreasonable, unfair and inequitable treatment of their investments and could expose FGN to international arbitration involving multi-billion dollars claims.

    11. As the FGN/NNPC relies on the provisions of the resolution agreement, charges preferred against ENI/Shell companies and employees would necessarily have to be withdrawn as continuing with the charges will be inconsistent with the spirit of the relevant clauses of the resolution agreement which will enable FGN to obtain immediate interest in OPL 245. Regardless, as submitted in paragraph five and six above, the charges as constituted and filed by the EFCC are unsustainable.

    12. Accept the assurances of my warm regards and loyalty, always.

    Abubakar Malami, SAN

    Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice.

    DPPA/FMPR/198/17
    September 27, 2017.

  • Malabu oil scam: Adoke must be prosecuted – AGF, Malami insists

    Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) has urged a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit challenging the competence of the charges filed against former AGF, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) and others over their alleged involvement in the $1.1bn Malabu Oil scam.

    Malami also insisted that Adoke and others named in the charges must subject them selves to the court’s jurisdiction to prove their innocence.

    The AGF position is contained in the documents he filed opposing Adoke’s suit before a Federal High Court in Abuja, urged the court to decline jurisdiction to hear the case.

    He argued that such civil suit “cannot be used to stop criminal prosecution already initiated”.

    Malami noted in his papers that the charges which its validity Adoke was challenging were five counts involving the fraudulent transfer of billions of dollars derived from the Oil Processing Licence 245 deal.

    Adoke had in May 2017 filed his suit against his successor as the sole defendant, urging the court to declare as illegal his prosecution by the EFCC with respect to his involvement in the deal between Malabu Oil and Gas Limited and the Federal Government over OPL 245.

    Malami, through the Permanent Secretary and the Solicitor-General of the Federation of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata, filed in response to the suit, a notice of preliminary objection challenging the competence of the suit and the court’s jurisdiction to hear it.

    He also filed a counter-affidavit challenging the merit of the case.

    Malami contended in his notice of preliminary objection that the suit was not only competent but that a civil suit such as Adoke’s could not be used to stop a criminal trial that had been instituted.

    The four grounds of Malami’s preliminary objection to the suit read, “The plaintiff has not disclosed any cause of action in the suit.

    “The civil suit cannot be used to stop criminal prosecution already initiated.

    “That the plaintiff’s suit as constituted is incompetent.

    “That this honourable court lacks jurisdiction to hear and determine the plaintiff’s suit.”

    Thomas Etah of the Federal Ministry of Justice who deposed to the AGF’s counter-affidavit, stated that Adoke’s suit did not disclose any dispute between the former AGF and his successor, since it was EFCC that investigated the case and found it worthy to institute the charges.

    Malami described Adoke’s suit as an abuse of court process, as he insisted that contrary to the former AGF’s claim in the suit, the charges initiated against him by the EFCC had nothing to do with “actions authorised by the President”.

    The counter-affidavit read in part,, “That from the documents and the processes, the plaintiff did not show any dispute between him and the defendant.

    “That the plaintiff’s suit does not disclose any cause of action.

    “That there are allegations of commission of financial crime by the plaintiff.

    “That the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has investigated the activities relating to the said money and has come to the conclusion that a prima facie case has been established against the plaintiff.

    “That the EFCC has drafted and filed a five-count charge against the plaintiff. A copy of the charge sheet dated January 30, 2017, the verifying affidavit dated March 2, 2017 together with the proof of evidence and dated March 2, 2017, all of which were filed on March 2, 2017, is hereby attached and numbered as Exhibit HAGF.

    “That the charges filed against the plaintiff does not relate to actions authorised by the President to be carried out by the plaintiff.

    “That the plaintiff’s suit is an abuse of court process.”

    Adoke had maintained in his originating summons that his involvement in the Malabu Oil deal as a serving minister was based on the presidential directive of former president, Goodluck Jonathan.

    In the suit filed on his legal team led by another former AGF, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), Adoke asked the court to determine whether by virtue of sections 5(1), 147(1), 148(1) and 150(1) of the 1999 Constitution a serving minister of the country could perform the “executive power of federation vested on the President as directed by the President.”

    He urged the court to declare that his involvement in the negotiation between the Nigerian government and Malabu Oil and gas Limited, Shell, Nigeria national Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Agip in the matter of OPL 245 was in “furtherance of the lawful directive/approval of the president in the exercise of his powers.”

    The former AGF also asked the court to declare that any correspondence he had with J.P Morgan and any other entity and ancillary actions and processes taken in respect to the Malabu Oil deal was in obedience to the lawful directive of the president in the exercise of his executive power.

    He also urged the court to declare that his prosecution by the EFCC in respect of Malabu deal on the account of carrying out the president’s directive was illegal, null and void.

  • $1.1bn Malabu Oil deal: FG taking steps to extradite Adoke, others

    The Federal Government is making all necessary arrangements to extradite to Nigeria, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, to face charges of fraud.

    Mr Johnson Ojogbane, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the agency prosecuting Adoke, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The EFCC charged Adoke and two multinational oil companies to court on charges of alleged $1.1billion Malabu Oil scam.

    On the last adjourned date, the judge, Justice John Tsoho, fixed June 13, for arraignment of Adoke and the other co-defendants.

    Ojogbane, however, told newsmen that the matter could not proceed because the EFCC had been unable to get Adoke and other defendants.

    “The matter was adjourned until today for arraignment of the defendants, but up till now, we have not been able to secure the attendance of most of the defendants, because they are outside jurisdiction, that is they are outside the country.

    “The Federal Government is doing everything within its powers to bring them back to Nigeria so that they can face their trial.

    “The government will take steps, in collaboration with the international police to locate them and bring them back to Nigeria through extradition, which is a very cumbersome process, but it will be done,” Ojogbane said.

    He said the court adjourned the matter until Oct. 26 after the court’s vacation to enable the process of bringing Adoke and others back to Nigeria to be intensified.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the EFCC had in December 2016, charged nine suspects, including Adoke, over the purchase of OPL 245.

    Adoke was accused of illegally transferring more than $800 million purportedly meant for the purchase of the OPL 245 to Dan Etete, Malabu Oil.

    The Federal Government had also on March 2, filed fresh charges against Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited and Agip Nigeria Exploration Limited for alleged complicity in the Malabu $1.1 billion scandal.

    Adoke, Etete, Aliyu Abubakar, ENI Spa, Ralph Wetzels, Casula Roberto, Pujatti Stefeno, Burrafati Sebestiano and Malabu Oil and Gas were charged alongside the two multinational oil companies.

     

     

    NAN

  • Malabu Oil deal: Adoke sues Malami, says ‘I acted in Jonathan’s directives’

    Former Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), who is facing corruption charges, has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to declare his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, illegal.

    In the suit asking the court to determine the constitutionality of a serving minister exercising executive power through a presidential directive, Adoke said his involvement in the Malabu Oil deal was limited to carrying out the directive of former president, Goodluck Jonathan.

    His successful, incumbent Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) was sole defendant in the suit

    The EFCC is accusing Adoke of aiding the transfer of money to his co-defendant, Dan Etete, himself a former petroleum minister and conspiring with him to commit money laundering offences in the infamous $1.1 billion Malabu Oil scam.

    But in originating summons to his counter-suit, which was signed by 11 lawyers led by Kanu Agabi and two other senior lawyers, Adoke asked the court to determine whether by virtue of sections 5(1), 147(1), 148(1) and 150(1) of the 1999 Constitution a serving minister of the country can perform the “executive power of federation vested on the president as directed by the president.”

    Section 5(1) of the Constitution deals with the executive power of the President and how such powers can be exercise or delegated.

    Section 147(1) and 148(1) outlines the duties and responsibilities of ministers and how those responsibilities are exercised in accordance with the wishes of the president while Section 150 (1) specifically deals with the responsibilities of the AGF.

    Adoke prayed the court to declare that his involvement in the negotiation between the Nigerian government and Malabu Oil and gas Limited, Shell, Nigeria national Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Agip in the matter of OPL 245 was in “furtherance of the lawful directive/approval of the president in the exercise of his powers.”

    The former AGF also asked the court to declare that any correspondence he had with J.P Morgan (the back which transferred the money to Mr. Etete) and any other entity and ancillary actions and processes taken in respect to the Malabu oil deal was in obedience to the lawful directive of the president in the exercise of his executive power.

    He further asked the court to declare that his prosecution by the EFCC in respect of Malabu deal on the account of carrying out the president’s directive was illegal, null and void and in breach of Section 5 (1) of the Constitution.

    Lastly, he asked the court to declare that he cannot be held personally liable for carrying out lawful directive/approval of the president while he served as a minister.

    In the affidavit filed in support of the originating summons, Mr. Adoke traced the evolution of the deal from 2006 until 2010 when Mr. Jonathan approved the transfer of the oil block to Mr. Etete maintaining that his role in the deal was shaped by former president’s directives.

    “That at all time material the plaintiff carried out the Presidential directive diligently, faithfully, impartially and in good faith and without any personal gain to himself nor to any other person except as was agreed to by the known parties to the parties.

    “The plaintiff verily believes that he did not exceed the directives/ approval given to him by the President and did nothing wrong to warrant his prosecution on account of the implementation of the Settlement Agreement,” the affidavit stated.

     

  • Malabu oil deal: I won’t return home until…Adoke lists conditions to FG

    Immediate past Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, has said he won’t return to home until the Federal Government concedes legally to certain rights and conditions that he is entitled to as a former public office holder and private citizen.

    In his words: “I will definitely come back, if I have the assurance that they will not harm me, they will not humiliate me any further, they will respect the laws of the land.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the former Attorney-General had earlier stated that he acted on the instructions of former President, Goodluck Jonathan as it concerns the Malabu oil deal.

    However, the former President in a swift reaction denied knowledge of the Malabu deal saying it predated his tenure as President of Nigeria.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said Adoke, who was AGF from 2010-2015, was involved in the alleged fraud that marred the transfer of OPL 245 licence from Malabu Oil and Gas Limited to Royal Dutch Shell and Italy’s ENI.

    He and eleven others, including former Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete, Shell and ENI officials were also accused by Italian prosecutors of wrongdoings when the deal was struck in 2011.

    The EFCC accused Adoke of being on the run, and the anti-graft office earlier this month sought a court order to compel him to appear for trial.

    But Adoke said he would remain in The Netherlands, where he said he has been studying since 2015, unless there are competent assurances from the Nigerian authorities that he won’t be humiliated.

    In an interview with The Cable, Adoke was quoted as saying: “If I am arrested and granted bail, I hope they will obey the court and not treat me like they have been treating others, they will not scandalise me, and there will be no mob trial, media circus, certainly I will return.”

    He, however, expressed doubts that the prevailing political atmosphere in the country could afford him such privileges after his return.

    He added, “But I will tell you something: that is not the environment that exists in Nigeria today. That is where my fear lies.

    “Also, I cannot underestimate the extent to which those after me can go considering the enormous power and influence they have in the government of today.”

  • Malabu Oil Deal: EFCC planning to raid, plant cash in my country home – Adoke

    Sequel to the on going controversies over the Malabu oil deal, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), says the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is planning to raid his country home in Okenne, Kogi State, with the purpose of planting huge sums of money in order to Implicate him.

    Adoke, who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan, said this in a statement by his media aide, Victor Akhidenor.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that the EFCC had on Tuesday raided Adoke’s home in Kano as part of investigations into the $1.3bn Malabu scam.

    Adoke said having found nothing in his Kano home, the EFCC had become desperate to nail him at all cost.

    The statement reads in full: “We gathered that the swoop on the country home of the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice will happen any moment from now as part of EFCC’s sustained campaign to soil the good name of Mr. Adoke in the guise of seeking evidence to indict him.

    “We put Nigerians on notice that with the desperation shown by the EFCC, it is not unlikely that they may want to plant incriminating document or cash in the Okenne home of Adoke and claim that same were found in the premises. The world is watching.”

    “It would be recalled that earlier this week, the EFCC invaded Adoke’s residence in Kano State, breaking doors, upturning chairs and tables, and generally disturbing the peace of the neighbourhood.

    “They claimed they were looking for documents with which to substantiate their wild allegations of corruption against Mr. Adoke. They did not find anything incriminating as there was no such document.

    “That action alone has established one fact — the EFCC has no shred of evidence on which they had charged Mr. Adoke to court. It was after charging him that they started hunting around for evidence. Is this justice?”

    Adoke maintained that the $1.3bn Malabu deal was transparent, adding that it was done with the approval of former President Jonathan.

     

    “However, for whatever reasons, the EFCC appears to have a different opinion on the Malabu issue and has made the harassment of Mr. Adoke, his family and associates their pastime, without providing any proof of wrongdoing.

    “We wish to warn that Mr. Adoke would no longer take these harassments of his family and serial invasions of his homes lying low and will now seek all legal means to enforce his rights, including asking for damages.”

     

  • BREAKING: $1.3bn Malabu Oil deal: EFCC raids ex-AGF, Adoke’s home

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday raided the Kano home of the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), as part of investigations into the $1.3bn Malabu scam.

    According to Adoke, the operatives of the EFCC stormed the residence and broke down the doors without a search warrant.

    Adoke said the officials, however, found nothing at the residence after the search.

    The statement read in part, “Some EFCC operatives today raided the house of former AGF and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN). They found nothing after breaking down the doors of his residence in Kano.

    “There was no evidence of a search warrant but they broke down some doors, searched everywhere and the roof. No information on the actual mission of the operatives. This invasion is without deference to the ongoing cases in court against the ex-AGF.”

    The EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, however confirmed to newsmen that operatives of the Commission conducted the search.