As more facts about the round-tripping transaction involving Shell, Agip and the federal government, continue to emerge, Shell has insisted that, in line with its policy, it cannot reveal commercially sensitive information on the transactions.
In its reaction, Agip disassociated itself from any misunderstanding between Shell and Malabu over oil block OPL 245. Agip confirmed that Malabu were the original operators of the oil block OPL 245 but because it had problems with its technical partners Shell, this led to the abandonment of the block for some years.
According to Agip, the federal government decided to bring in a third party, which is Agip, so as to sort out the problem between Malabu and Shell.
Tajudeen Adigun, spokesman for Agip, pointed out that Agip took over the block from the government and had been operating it as a joint venture with Shell after it had paid the necessary fees which the federal government may have used to settle Malabu.
Funny enough, the Presidency that is usually fast to respond to Muhammadu Buhari, has refused to explain the role played by Mr President and other to government officials in this GARGANTUAN fraud involving the government, Shell, ENI subsidiaries in Nigeria, a Nigerian oil firm and a former petroleum minister, Dan Etete.
However, the civil society and opposition parties have criticized government’s silence, while also calling for a probe. A report by the United States-based anti-corruption NGO, Global Witness, had said that Nigerian subsidiaries of both Shell and ENI agreed to pay $1.092bn to the Federal Government for oil block OPL 245.
The report entitled, “Shell’s obscure payments kill its case for weak US and EU transparency laws”, further alleged that the Federal Government then paid the entire N155bn to Malabu Oil and Gas, a company owned by Mr. Dan Etete.
An online news medium, PREMIUM TIMES, in a follow up on its earlier version of a report on Thursday, had stated that money was paid on the order of President Jonathan. It also alleged that the money was a slush fund,“with a huge chunk of it ending in bank accounts of cronies and business associates of government officials.”
Global Witness said documents in a New York court stated that “…it does appear that the FGN (Federal Government of Nigeria) was indeed the proverbial “straw man” holding $1.1bn for ultimate payment to Malabu.”
Experts describe the process as round-tripping, adding that it is a tool widely used by corrupt government officials and businessmen for money laundering and tax evasion.
Efforts to get the President’s spokesman, Dr. Ruben Abati’s reaction to the money laundering allegation on Thursday were not successful, despite the sensitive nature of the allegation. When called, Abati did not pick his mobile phone neither did he respond to an SMS send to him, asking for the Presidency’s reaction on the matter.
The report alleged that the President had instructed the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN) to pay the money to Malabu.
When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister of State for Finance, Mallam M. Nakoji, said he could not comment on the N155bn money laundering controversy since he was not familiar with the issue.
He said the minister could not be reached because he (Ngama) was in Port-Harcourt attending a meeting. He, however, promised to get the response of the minister on Friday. Repeated calls put across to the minister was not picked. Similarly, a text message sent to him at 4:03pm was not replied.
Also, efforts to get a reaction from the AGF were not successful as at the time of filing this report. Our correspondent could not see the Minister when he called at his office in the Ministry of Justice.
The AGF’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ambrose Momoh, who was also not in the office at the time our correspondent visited, did not respond to calls on his mobile telephone. A text message sent to him was not replied.
Similarly, Shell failed to address the issue of the fraud when contacted for comments by one of our correspondents on Thursday. The oil giant said in line with its information policy, it could not reveal commercially sensitive information. It also added that it could not comment further on the papers filed in the New York court proceedings.
STRANGELY, the EFCC, which was reported to have investigated the allegation also refused to comment on it on Thursday. When contacted, the spokesperson of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, told our correspondent that he was yet to get confirmation from the appropriate authority but promised to “get back”.
Condemning The FRAUD:
The Congress for Progressive Change, said that the Jonathan administration was more concerned about looting than governance. The CPC spokesman, Rotimi Fashakin, in an SMS to one of our correspondents, stated, “After the death of Abacha, much noise was made on the tens of billions of naira that later became known as the Abacha loot.
“Little did we realize that successive PDP governments would dwarf his records in mindless rapaciousness and kleptomaniac impudence. But in all these sleazy records, this Jonathan administration beats them all. No inspiring governance, only looting.”
Also, the Campaign for Democracy president, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said that with the money laundering allegation, the Jonathan government had taken corruption to a new height. “It is now one day one scandal for the government. That not one person has resigned in all the mind boggling corruption scandals under Jonathan shows that the commander-in-chief is friendly with corruption and it is so sad,” she said.
Condemning the Federal Government, Executive Director, African Network for Environmental and Economic Justice, Rev. David Ugolor, stated that there was lack of transparency in the oil and gas sector industry in Nigeria. He stated, “If the petroleum resources minister continues to have discretionary powers without recourse to the National Assembly, we will continue to see this kind of problem... This is only one of the many corrupt cases... You recall that during the nationwide demonstration in January, the President promised to reform the oil industry...What has happened since then?”
“Little did we realize that successive PDP governments would dwarf his records in mindless rapaciousness and kleptomaniac impudence. But in all these sleazy records, this Jonathan administration beats them all. No inspiring governance, only looting.”
Also, the Campaign for Democracy president, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said that with the money laundering allegation, the Jonathan government had taken corruption to a new height. “It is now one day one scandal for the government. That not one person has resigned in all the mind boggling corruption scandals under Jonathan shows that the commander-in-chief is friendly with corruption and it is so sad,” she said.
Condemning the Federal Government, Executive Director, African Network for Environmental and Economic Justice, Rev. David Ugolor, stated that there was lack of transparency in the oil and gas sector industry in Nigeria. He stated, “If the petroleum resources minister continues to have discretionary powers without recourse to the National Assembly, we will continue to see this kind of problem... This is only one of the many corrupt cases... You recall that during the nationwide demonstration in January, the President promised to reform the oil industry...What has happened since then?”
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