LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has commenced a review of developments around the Malabu OPL 245 fraud case.
The commission said it has also commended a review of the dismissal of the charges against a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Bello Adoke by a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja and the conduct of the prosecuting counsel, Offem Uket.
This decision follows the denial of reports suggesting that parties involved in the trial bribed the EFCC prosecutor, Offem Uket, to mishandle the case.
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On January 15, 2020, the EFCC brought charges against Adoke, along with Aliyu Abubakar, Gbinije from Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited, Shell Ultra Deep Nigeria Limited, and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited.
Adoke was accused of receiving a N300 million gratification from Abubakar regarding the OPL 245 resolution.
In response to the no-case submission by Adoke, the trial judge, Abubakar Kutigi, dismissed the charges against the former AGF.
He criticized the EFCC for its failure to substantiate allegations of fraud, bribery, and money laundering, and condemned the agency for conducting a four-year trial without presenting sufficient evidence.
In a statement by Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Mr Dele Oyewale, the commission said review will entail exploration of the option of appeal and possible change of counsel in view of the commission’s dissatisfaction with the handling of the case by Uket.
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“Nevertheless, this intention has no nexus whatsoever to the spew of speculations imputing compromise by parties to the charge, currently making the rounds in some sections of the media.
“EFCC is not obliged to embrace such narratives as it neither accused any of the parties of any unsavoury conduct nor made any conclusive statements about any investigation on the matter.
“The public is enjoined to ignore effusions of mischief makers on the matter and await the next course of actions,” it stated.