The Minister of Justice and
Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, yesterday, disclosed why
he was yet to come up with a final position on the controversial Malabu Oil
affair.
The deal involved the sum of
$1.1billion, equivalent of over N500 billion, allegedly pilfered when Diezani
Alison-Madueke was at the helms of the Petroleum Resources Ministry.
Malami, who appeared before the Razak
Atunwa-led House of Representatives ad hoc committee probing alleged
corruption, malpractices and breach of due process in the award of OPL 245,
said the Malabu Oil deal was fraught with a lot of complexities, hindering
investigation and resolution.
Presenting a 16-page document to the lawmakers, Malami said there were multiple requests from interested parties, locally and internationally, for mutual legal assistance from the United States, Italy and the United Kingdom.
The AGF said given the constraint he
faced, he had limited information because “investigation is ongoing” and “no conclusion
is certain.” He urged the lawmakers to give him more time to prepare a proper
and fuller brief.
“The field has not been covered.
Investigation is ongoing nationally and internationally, and what I say might
alter the conclusion of the case. I took steps to write to the international
agencies and government to consolidate on the available information. Only the
day before yesterday (Tuesday), I forwarded response to the mutual legal
request that has to do with Malabo in the U.S. We have to move with caution by
allowing representations to be made.”
In attendance at the hearing were
Mohammed, son of the late Head of State, Sani Abacha, and Oyewole Fasawe,
shareholders in the Malabu transaction.
They, however, withdrew their
submissions for opportunity to present a more comprehensive and detailed
presentation to the committee.
Abdullahi Haruna, who stood in for
Mohammed and Fasawe, reminded members of the committee that they had submitted
documents to the 7th House on the issue.
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