Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani
Alison-Madueke has been fingered in the ceding of the controversial
$1.04billion OPL 245 to Malabu Oil, The Nation reports.
It was gathered that the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) has obtained documents implicating Diezani in the oil block
deal and also confirming the interest of the Abacha family.
A source who spoke to the newspaper said, “The ongoing
probe of the controversial oil block has shown that Diezani was central to the
ceding of the oil block to Malabu Oil and Gas Limited.
“Some documents available to detectives have clearly shown
that she has some explanation to give on how the oil block was returned to
Malabu.
“At the appropriate
time, the EFCC may seek inter-agency collaboration with the appropriate
authorities in the United Kingdom to enable its detectives to interrogate
Diezani.”
Responding to a question, the source added, “There are many
suspects we are closing in on the Malabu Oil block. More will still face
trial.”
He said Diezani in a letter to Managing Director of Malabu
Oil and Gas Limited in 2010, asked the company to pay US$210million as
signature bonus.
The letter, ICSID Case No. ARE/07/18, said: “Further to the
Settlement Agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Malabu Oil
and Gas Ltd dated November 2006, your company is hereby allocated OPI 245
subject to the payment of the sum of US$210million as signature bonus into the
Federal Government designated account less the sum of US$2,040,000 already paid
by your company in respect of the said block within ninety days (90 days) from
the date of receipt of this letter.
“Please note that failure to pay the above mentioned within
the stipulated period will amount to forfeiture of the allocation without
further notice from the office.
“Please, accept the assurance of my highest regards.”
By Azeez Adeniyi
