The Nigerian anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday filed a nine-count charge against the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, former Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete and former Minister of State, Finance, Mr. Yerima Ngama over their roles in the $1.1 billion Malabu oil deal.
A businessman, Abubakar Aliyu was also charged. In the nine-count charge filed at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, Adoke and Ngama were alleged to have approved the transfer of about $1.1 billion into Nigerian accounts controlled by Mr. Etete.
The said amount was said to have been paid by oil giants, Shell and ENI, into the Federal Government account for OPL 245 oil bloc, which was considered the richest in Africa.
After the transfer to Etete, over half of the money was paid to accounts of shady companies controlled by Aliyu. Although Adoke had repeatedly claimed not to commit any offense, it was alleged that investigations by authorities in Nigeria, United Kingdom and Italy have linked him to the scandal.
