Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mohammed Adoke has asked the Federal Government to apologise to him following the resolution of the dispute over Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245.
Mr. Adoke, who served under former president Goodluck Jonathan, made the demand in a statement on Friday.
He said he was subjected to humiliation and defamation at home and abroad over his role in resolving the dispute while he was attorney-general.
“This is a further indictment of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration who decided to scandalise and criminalise the work we did in the national interest to resolve the disputes caused by the revocation of the oil block by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2002.
“It is unfortunate that I was subjected to humiliation and defamation at home and abroad for the role I played as attorney-general in resolving the dispute to get this national asset working.
“I strongly believe that I deserve an apology from the Federal Government for the persecution and humiliation I was subjected to for nine years,” Adoke said.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for resolving the dispute and said he had forgiven those who criticised him over the matter.
“I take it as part of the burden of service to my country. I remain steadfast in my belief in Nigeria,” he added.
The Federal Government on Thursday announced that it had reached a settlement with Eni and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited over the dispute on OPL 245.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga after a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja attended by Eni chief executive officer Claudio Descalzi and other company officials.
The government said the agreement ended a dispute that lasted more than 15 years over the oil block.
With the dispute settled, the government said the way is clear for a final investment decision on the Zabazaba–Etan project, which could add about 150,000 barrels per day to Nigeria’s production.
“This resolution sends a signal to investors that Nigeria is prepared to address issues, uphold the rule of law, and create an environment for long-term investment,” President Tinubu said.
Presidential adviser on energy Olu Arowolo-Verheijen said the agreement improves on the 2011 resolution and follows the framework under the Petroleum Industry Act.
Earlier in the week, the Federal Government split the OPL 245 oil block into four assets to be operated by Eni and Shell.
The oil block was first awarded in 1998 to Malabu Oil and Gas, a company linked to former oil minister Dan Etete, before it was later sold to Shell and Eni.
The deal led to investigations in several countries over claims that part of the $1.3 billion paid for the licence was diverted to politicians and others.
Eni, Shell and some executives, including Claudio Descalzi, were tried in Italy and acquitted in 2021 after denying wrongdoing.
