Following the acquittal of former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Dan Etete, by a court in Italy over the Malabo oil deal, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), a socio-political group, has demanded both an apology and compensation for the former minister.
A Milan court, had, on March 17, 2021, acquitted oil firms Royal Dutch Shell and Eni, and other defendants, of the alleged corruption regarding the purchase of Oil Mining Lease(OML) 245, in 2011.
The two international oil firms were charged to court over their alleged involvement in the fraudulent transfer of the OML 245 from Malabu.
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The two oil firms reportedly paid about $1.3 billion to Nigerian government accounts in the UK, which then transferred most of the money to Malabu, a company allegedly controlled by Etete.
However, the judge, Macro Tremolada, acquitted the companies and all the defendants on the grounds that there was no case to answer.
Reacting, Mr Ebilade Ekerefe, Spokesperson, IYC, called on the Federal Government to tender a public apology to Chief Etete over the troubles they made him pass through on the Malabu oil issue.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Ekerefe also called on the Federal Government to return all the seized assets of Etete, adding that a compensation should be paid to him.
The group also warned against the victimization of the Ijaw people, threatening that if such persists, the group will take a radical position that will not promote peace.
The statement reads in part, “The consistency of the judgements in both United Kingdom and Milan, Italy … show clearly that the federal government went on a wild goose chase and maligned the good reputation of chief Dan Etete…
“The federal government should offer… a clear and specific apology to Chief Dan Etete. The federal government should also pay him compensation for all the troubles and losses associated with this unfortunate and deliberate act in damaging his reputation and his business. It is also submitted that more indigenous people be allowed not only to freely participate but be issued oil licences. Ijaw Nation will view such actions as a positive light in an otherwise dark terrain with its negative effects over the years.”
The Malabu oil deal is regarded as the biggest corruption scandal in the oil industry of Nigeria.
The controversial Malabu deal was struck in 2011 under former President Goodluck Jonathan. The arrangement saw the Nigerian government stand as a negotiator in the controversial sale of the oil block in offshore Nigerian waters.
Also a UK court, in May, 2020, acquitted Shell and Eni of the corruption and fraud allegations.
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Malabu Oil Deal: UK Repatriates $73m To FG
Malabu Oil Scandal: Nigeria Deserves Justice, Says Global Witness
