OPL 245: Group Wants Probe Of Abacha’s Son In Malabu Oil Scandal

The Niger Delta Peace Vanguard has condemned the actions of Mohammed Abacha, son of the late military dictator, Sani Abacha, saying they hinder the government’s progress in resolving the issues surrounding Malabu Oil and Gas (OPL 245).

In a statement jointly signed by Dr. B.I Princewill, Comrade Preye Nimijack, Ms. Queenet Morgan, and Hon. Festus Zifawei on Friday, the group accused Mohammed Abacha of spreading falsehood and engaging in economic sabotage.

The statement dated July 11, 2024 is titled, ‘Enough Is Enough For The Abacha Family, Especially Mohammed Abacha.’

Mohammed Abacha is claiming ownership of Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd, a company that was awarded an oil prospecting license in 1998 by his father.

The company’s original license was later revoked in 2001 by President Olusegun Obasanjo, unrelated to the interests of Dan Etete, who served as Minister of Petroleum under Sani Abacha and also had a stake in Malabu.

Following a lengthy legal battle after the revocation, an out-of-court settlement was reached in 2006, restoring the block to Malabu, which was implemented by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.

Shell and ENI acquired full rights to OPL 245 for $1.3 billion in a government-brokered deal. However, foreign watchdogs alleged fraud in the 2011 settlement, leading to criminal and civil cases in Italy and the UK. Despite these efforts, all defendants, including the oil companies, were ultimately found “not guilty” in court.

However, the then-Muhammadu Buhari administration declined to upgrade the prospecting license (OPL) to a full oil mining lease (OML) for the Etan and Zabazaba fields being developed by ENI.

The group alleged that on the night of Sani Abacha’s burial in Kano State, Mohammed reportedly went with his security personnel to the Presidential Villa in Abuja to retrieve stashed foreign currencies.

The statement reads, “We strongly condemn Mohammed Abacha’s damaging impact on Nigeria’s image and reputation. It is crucial to highlight the obstructive and detrimental actions of Mohammed Abacha, which are severely hindering governmental progress in resolving the issues surrounding Malabu Oil and Gas OML 245. His insistence on promoting falsehoods by attempting to resurrect controversial issues, despite numerous legal setbacks over 24 years, is causing unnecessary turmoil, casting a shadow on Nigeria’s reputation, and engaging in economic sabotage.

“Mohammed Abacha has been relentless in filing frivolous lawsuits related to Malabu Oil & Gas OML 245. These cases lack merit and are often dismissed because he has been unable to establish any legitimate connection with Malabu Oil & Gas or prove his membership on its board.

“These repeated failures in court reveal his motives as obstructive rather than constructive, wasting judicial resources, delaying justice, and obstructing progress in Nigeria and the petroleum sector.

“Mohammed Abacha’s greed and relentless pursuit of dubious claims further tarnish the already controversial legacy of his late father, General Sani Abacha. His actions display a disturbing lack of respect and seem driven by selfish desire for wealth rather than national interest.

“We call on Nigerians to question Mohammed Abacha about his whereabouts on the night of his father’s burial in Kano State. It is widely known that instead of mourning his late father, he reportedly absconded with his security personnel to the Presidential Villa in Abuja to retrieve stashed foreign currencies.

“His apprehension by security operatives was quelled out of respect for his family during their time of mourning. Such behavior underscores his lack of integrity and respect for national sentiments, and Nigerians should refuse to be further embarrassed by his actions.”

The group lamented that the scandals surrounding the Abacha family have caused embarrassment for Nigeria.

It said, “Nigerians deserve to know the whereabouts of Mohammed Abacha’s younger brother, Abba Abacha. Abba Abacha has allegedly been convicted of money laundering and other related offenses in Switzerland.

“The Abacha family’s continued involvement in financial scandals has caused enough humiliation for the country. Rather than being a public nuisance, they should hide their faces in shame.

“We urge the EFCC Chairman to take decisive action to recover the $460 million USD that was laundered from Nigeria to Switzerland and subsequently to the Cayman Islands by Mohammed Abacha and his accomplices, the Chagoury brothers, who are so-called Nigerian-born Lebanese.

“This substantial sum remains in a bank account under the name of a Lebanese-Brazilian ex-governor of São Paulo, Mr. Malouf, who has confessed to Brazilian authorities that the funds belong to Mohammed Abacha and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Nigeria’s current Minister for Budget and Economic Planning). Recovering these funds would send a strong message against corruption and benefit Nigeria’s economy.

“We call on the Nigerian Government to extend its investigation to Jordan, where there is concrete evidence that a substantial portion of the Abacha loot is domiciled.

“We also urge the EFCC Chairman to investigate Mr. Mohammed Abacha without delay, as his sense of being untouchable is now counterproductive to our nation. We expect that he should be investigated, tried, and sent to jail where he rightfully belongs.

“Mohammed Abacha, who sent a misleading letter to the Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum, deliberately misrepresented facts and claimed that issues surrounding Malabu Oil & Gas OML 245 remain unresolved. Nigerians must realize that his continuous actions against the interests of Nigeria and its government not only threaten progress but also cast a lingering shadow of scandal on the nation and undermine the fight against corruption in Nigeria.”

“It is high time that these disruptive actions are curtailed for the betterment of Nigeria and its people. The call for accountability and transparency must resonate louder than ever to ensure that Nigeria progresses undeterred by the selfish interests of a harmful few,” it added.

An estimated $4 billion in cash and $2 billion in assets were recovered from the Abacha loot between 1999 and 2023.