BEVERLY HILLS, March 02, (THEWILL) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed charges against a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Dan Etete; a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Bello Adoke (SAN); and a businessman, Aliyu Abubakar over the alleged $801million Malabu oil deal bribe.
Also charged are Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited; Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited; ENI SPA; Malabu Oil and Gas Limited; Ralph Wetzels (ex- Director of SNEPCO), Casula Roberto (Italian) and Director of AGIP; Pujatti Stefeno (Italian) and Director in AGIP; and Burafato Sebastiano (Italian).
According to the charges filed by the EFCC, the accused persons are to face trial for alleged: conspiracy, contrary to Section 26 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 12 of the same Act; and official corruption contrary to Section 9 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 9 (b) of the same Act but no date has been fixed for their arraignment.
The charge sheet, dated February 28, states that all the accused persons will be arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Division.
The particulars of the offence reads:
“That you Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited, Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited, ENI SPA, Ralph Wetzels (whilst being director of SNEPCO), Casula Roberto (Italian) whilst being the director of AGIP; Pujatti Stefeno (Italian) while being the director in AGIP; Burafato Sebastiano(Italian), while being a Director with AGIP; Douzia Louya Etete(a.k.a Dan Etete); Mohammed Bello Adoke; Aliyu Abubakar and Malabu Oil and Gas Limited sometime in 2011 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Official corruption and thereby committed an offence.
“That you Douzia Louya Etete(a.k.a Dan Etete), Mohammed Bello Adoke; Aliyu Abubakar and Malabu Oil and Gas Limited sometime in 2011 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court corruptly received the aggregate sum of $801million in relation to the grant of Oil Prospecting Licence in respect of OPL 245 from Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company, Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited and ENI SPA and thereby committed an offence.
“That you Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited, Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited, ENI SPA, Ralph Wetzels(whilst being Director of SNEPCO), Casula Roberto(Italian) whilst being the Director of AGIP; Pujatti Stefeno(Italian) while beinmg the Director in AGIP; Burafato Sebastiano(Italian), while being a Director with AGIP; Douzia Louya Etete(a.k.a Dan Etete); Mohammed Bello Adoke; Aliyu Abubakar and Malabu Oil and Gas Limited sometime in 2011 within the jurisdiction of this court corruptly gave the aggregate sum of $801million to Douzia Louya Etete(a.k.a Dan Etete) , Mohammed Bello Adoke; Aliyu Abubakar and Malabu Oil and Gas Limited on account of the grant of Oil Prospecting Licence in respect of OPL 245 and thereby committed an offence.”
THEWILL recalls that the EFCC on December 20, 2016 filed nine charges bordering on alleged mismanagement of $1,616,690,656.78 Malabu Oil cash against Adoke, Etete, Abubakar, Malabu Oil and Gas Limited; Rocky Top Resources Limited; Imperial Union Limited; Novel Properties and Development Company Limited, Group Construction Limited and Megatech Engineering Limited at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
This led to a letter of commendation by a global anti-corruption group, Global Witness, urging the EFCC not to waiver in its determination to probe the sale of the oil block.
The group praised the Acting EFCC chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu for the ‘sterling investigatory work’ by the commission on the Malabu oil deal and said Global witness was ‘delighted to read press reports that former Attorney-General Mohammed Bello Adoke, Chief Etete and others have been implicated by the EFCC for fraud and money laundering in respect of the OPL 245 oil deal.
“We applaud the Nigerian authorities for fighting back against corruption without fear or favour, making sure there are real consequences for taking part in shady deals like with OPL 245,” the letter read.
“We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our admiration for the sterling investigatory work by the EFCC, under your leadership, that has brought this case to court.
“We believe that the case will send a powerful message to the world that Nigeria is intent on prosecuting corruption without fear or favour.”
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