Nigeria’s former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), unveiled his highly anticipated book, OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja today, July, 10th 2925. Published by The Conrad Press Ltd in the United Kingdom, the book offers a detailed and unfiltered narrative of one of Nigeria’s most controversial oil deals, the OPL 245 transaction, which has been mired in allegations of fraud, bribery, and international intrigue. The event, attended by prominent figures including former President Goodluck Jonathan as chairman and Vice President Kashim Shettima as the Special Guest of Honour, marked a significant moment in shedding light on a saga that has gripped global attention for over a decade.
The OPL 245 Saga: A Brief Overview
Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245, located in a deep-water offshore area approximately 150 km off the Niger Delta, is considered one of West Africa’s most valuable oil fields, with an estimated 9 billion barrels of crude oil. The saga began in 1998 when the Nigerian government, under General Sani Abacha, awarded OPL 245 to Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, a company linked to then-Petroleum Minister Dan Etete and associates of the Abacha family, for $20 million, of which only $2.04 million was paid.
The deal took a contentious turn in 2001 when President Olusegun Obasanjo revoked Malabu’s licence without clear justification, triggering years of legal disputes. Shell, which had signed an agreement to acquire a 40% stake in OPL 245, was awarded the block in 2002, only for Malabu to regain it in 2006 through an out-of-court settlement. The controversy escalated in 2011 when Malabu sold its 100% interest in OPL 245 to Shell and Eni for $1.1 billion, with an additional $208 million signature bonus paid to the Nigerian government, bringing the total to $1.3 billion.
The transaction, brokered by Adoke during his tenure as Attorney-General under President Goodluck Jonathan, aimed to resolve a complex web of disputes between Malabu, Shell, Eni, and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN). However, allegations of corruption and money laundering surfaced, leading to investigations in the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, France, and Nigeria. The deal was labeled as “the biggest corporate bribery scandal in history,” with claims that much of the $1.3 billion was siphoned off to politicians and middlemen.
Adoke’s Defense: A Narrative of Vindication?
In OPL 245: The Inside Story, Adoke presents a compelling defense of his role in the transaction, arguing that he acted in Nigeria’s best interest to avert a potential $2 billion arbitration award against the country by Shell at the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). He describes his role as that of a facilitator, implementing lawful presidential directives to resolve a long-standing dispute that had hampered Nigeria’s oil production and international reputation.
Adoke asserts that the deal was transparent and that he neither demanded nor received bribes, contrary to allegations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and international prosecutors. He recounts how he proposed a solution where the FGN acted as the sole counterparty to Shell and Eni, ensuring the resolution of disputes with Malabu separately to avoid further legal entanglements. Courts in Nigeria, Italy, and the United Kingdom have since acquitted Adoke, Shell, Eni, and others, finding no evidence of fraud or corruption. The U.S. Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission, along with Dutch authorities, also closed their investigations without finding incriminating evidence.
Explosive Allegations: A Web of Intrigue
Adoke’s book goes beyond defending his actions, delivering scathing indictments of key figures and institutions involved in the saga. He accuses former President Muhammadu Buhari of scandalizing the OPL 245 deal to pursue a personal agenda, particularly on behalf of the Abacha family, who felt cheated in the transaction. Adoke claims Buhari’s administration targeted him through politically motivated charges, including a fabricated money laundering case tied to a failed mortgage transaction, which courts later dismissed.
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He also points fingers at former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, alleging they sought to use litigation to extract billions from Shell and Eni for personal or political gain. Adoke further criticizes former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose revocation of Malabu’s licence in 2001 without due process set the stage for the crisis. Adoke argues that Obasanjo’s denial of approving the 2006 settlement agreement, despite evidence of his handwritten approval, was disingenuous and exacerbated the controversy.
Internationally, Adoke targets NGOs like Global Witness and Italian prosecutor Fabio De Pasquale, accusing them of orchestrating a “grand conspiracy” against him. He claims De Pasquale, motivated by a personal vendetta against former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (linked to Eni), collaborated with NGOs to push a narrative of corruption that lacked evidence. Adoke alleges this campaign was driven by “gold diggers, glory hunters, and avengers” seeking financial or reputational gains.
The Book Launch: A Moment of Reckoning
The public presentation of OPL 245: The Inside Story was a high-profile event, with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as the Chief Book Presenter and journalist Reuben Abati as the Book Reviewer. Social media reactions on X highlighted the book’s candid tone, with users like @gimbakakanda describing it as “explosive” and a defining contribution to the discourse on public sector corruption in Nigeria. @Adesuwa_G noted that Adoke “did not hold back,” underscoring the book’s unapologetic narrative.
The timing of the launch, a day after the EFCC described corruption in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as “mind-boggling,” added to its significance, framing Adoke’s account as a critique of systemic issues in Nigeria’s oil sector.
Impact and Implications
Adoke’s book challenges the narrative of corruption that has long surrounded OPL 245, offering a firsthand account that reframes the deal as a necessary resolution to a messy dispute. It highlights the complexities of Nigeria’s oil industry, where political vendettas, international agendas, and legal battles intersect. The book also raises questions about accountability, the role of foreign entities in shaping Nigeria’s image, and the challenges of governance in a resource-rich nation plagued by corruption allegations.
For readers, OPL 245: The Inside Story provides a rare glimpse into the inner workings of a high-stakes oil deal and the personal toll it took on Adoke, who faced arrest, exile, and defamation. His acquittal by courts in Nigeria and abroad strengthens his claim of innocence, but the book also serves as a call for Nigeria to address systemic issues in its oil sector and judicial processes.
The book is expected to unsettles issues on the OPL 245 saga, Adoke’s memoir stands as attempt to set the record straight, exposing what he describes as a “cruel coalition” of interests that sought to tarnish his legacy. Whether it will reshape public perception or reignite debate remains to be seen, but it is undeniably a significant contribution to understanding one of Nigeria’s most infamous oil deals.
