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Adoke took bribes to deprive Nigeria of $1.1bn in OPL-245 contract – HEDA

Published

6 months ago

July 14, 2025

Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke

Adoke took bribes to deprive Nigeria of $1.1bn in OPL-245 contract – HEDA

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda has alleged that the former attorney general of the federation, Muhammed Adoke, received bribes totaling $ 2.2 million to deprive Nigeria of $1.1 billion in payment and $5.7 billion in royalties, among other benefits, in the OPL-245 oil contract deal.

HEDA’s condemnation came days after Mr Adoke unveiled his memoir titled ‘OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3bn Nigerian Oil Block’, drawing widespread comments from Nigerians.

In a statement by its chairman, Olarewaju Suraju, on Sunday, the civil society organisation condemned Mr Adoke’s book as an attempt to distort facts concerning the controversial Malabu OPL 245 oil deal.

“Adoke’s memoir is an attempt by a man in need of psychological attention to distort facts, feed on public amnesia to mislead the public, contradict of earlier claims in his previous book “burden of (did)service” and absolve himself of responsibility and culpability in the $1.1 billion oil block scandal wish he was charged for directly receiving a $2.2million cash and laundered same through a Bureau de Change and a bank manager in Kano,” the statement said.

The civil society organisation further accused Mr Adoke of fabricating stories in relation to the oil deal, alleging the former attorney general’s actions “between 2010 and 2015 undermined Nigeria’s national interest and facilitated the unlawful transfer of public funds to private entities under the guise of resolving ownership disputes over OPL 245”.

HEDA accused Mr Adoke of playing a central role in approving the controversial settlement between Shell, Eni, and Malabu Oil & Gas Limited, “despite numerous red flags”.

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Email correspondences and documents presented by the organisation and its partners as evidence had been officially tendered in courts in Milan, Switzerland, and London, and formed part of the evidence used by prosecutors in foreign jurisdictions, HEDA alleged.

Describing the memoir as libelous and defamatory, the civil society organisation announced its preparation to publish the true story behind the deal, accusing the former minister of abandoning the forgery allegations against HEDA.

“We will not allow falsehoods to stand unchallenged, especially when they seek to discredit the work of patriotic Nigerians and mislead the public about a case of such national importance, using the proceeds of criminal activities for image laundering,” HEDA stated.

The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to holding public officers accountable, noting that Mr Adoke was not acquitted in his prosecution by the EFCC.

“HEDA reiterated its commitment to holding public officials accountable and ensuring that justice is served in the long-running Malabu oil scandal, which has drawn scrutiny from anti-corruption bodies and courts across multiple jurisdictions.

“Adoke, contrary to claim in his tissue of lies called a book, was only discharged and never acquitted in his prosecution by the EFCC,” the statement explained.

Mr Adoke, however, dismissed HEDA’s allegations.

“Let them write their version. I have nothing more to say,” the former justice minister told Peoples Gazette in response to HEDA’s claims.

In 2020, the EFCC arraigned the former justice minister on the charge of using the public office for personal gain.

The anti-graft agency re-arraigned Mr Adoke in 2021, despite his petition to the police, in which he accused HEDA and others of forging documents used to aid his conviction in Italy, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria.

Mr Adoke was let off the hook last year after the anti-graft agency conceded it did not have sufficient evidence to challenge the no-case application by the former minister.

Adoke took bribes to deprive Nigeria of $1.1bn in OPL-245 contract – HEDA

Related Topics:Adoke HEDA Nigeria OPL-245

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MPAC Condemns Threats Against Igbo Muslims, Calls for Immediate Security Action

Published

49 minutes ago

December 31, 2025

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MPAC Executive Chairman Disu Kamor

MPAC Condemns Threats Against Igbo Muslims, Calls for Immediate Security Action

The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) Nigeria has condemned in strong terms an alarming audio recording circulating on social media that allegedly calls for violence against Igbo Muslims, describing it as hate speech and a direct incitement to criminality.

The audio, which gained widespread attention on TikTok, is attributed to Mazi Kanayo and reportedly urges members of the Igbo ethnic group to abduct, brutalize, and eliminate fellow Igbos who practice Islam, while falsely accusing them of abandoning their faith for material gain.

In a statement released on Wednesday, MPAC Executive Chairman Disu Kamor warned that such rhetoric poses a serious threat to public safety and undermines Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees of life, religious freedom, and peaceful coexistence.

“History has repeatedly shown that genocidal rhetoric does not start with violence—it begins with words left unchecked, unchallenged, and unpunished,” the statement read.

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MPAC urged security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), to investigate the origin and circulation of the audio and ensure that all those responsible are identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The group also called on regulatory authorities and social media platforms to take swift action to curb the spread of content that promotes hatred or threatens communal harmony, and asked political, community, and religious leaders—particularly in the South-East—to publicly denounce the incitement to violence and reaffirm their commitment to peaceful coexistence.

MPAC stressed that freedom of expression does not include incitement to murder, ethnic cleansing, or religious persecution, urging Nigerians to reject divisive narratives and stand against attempts to weaponize ethnicity or religion.

“The security of one group is inseparable from the security of all,” the statement emphasized.

The organization confirmed it will continue engaging authorities and monitoring the situation to ensure that the dangerous rhetoric is addressed before it escalates into violence.

MPAC Condemns Threats Against Igbo Muslims, Calls for Immediate Security Action

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MURIC Calls for Arrest of Maazi Kanayo Over Alleged Threats to Igbo Muslims

Published

3 hours ago

December 31, 2025

Trends Admin

Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola

MURIC Calls for Arrest of Maazi Kanayo Over Alleged Threats to Igbo Muslims

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on Nigerian security agencies to arrest and prosecute Maazi Kanayo for allegedly inciting the Igbo people of South Eastern Nigeria to kidnap and kill Igbo Muslims.

The call was made in a statement released on Wednesday, 31st December, 2025, by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola. According to the organization, a viral audio clip showed Kanayo allegedly instructing potential kidnappers and attackers to target Muslims of Igbo extraction living in Enugu, Ebonyi, and Imo States.

“Maazi Kanayo specifically directed his potential kidnappers and killers to target Muslims of Igbo extraction. This is the last thing Nigeria needs at a time when the country faces serious insecurity,” the statement said.

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MURIC described the threats as extremely dangerous, warning that the audio could put thousands of Igbo Muslims’ lives at risk, including some who hold positions as traditional rulers, potentially triggering communal tensions in the South East.

“Every minute counts as the lives of thousands of people hang in the balance,” Professor Akintola said, urging the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police to take immediate action against Kanayo.

MURIC emphasized that the threats were directed at individuals simply for embracing Islam, framing the issue as a grave human rights and security concern. The organization called on the public to remain vigilant and support security agencies in protecting at-risk communities.

#DSS, #NigeriaPolice, #PlotToKillIgboMuslims, #NoToMuslimGenocide.

MURIC Calls for Arrest of Maazi Kanayo Over Alleged Threats to Igbo Muslims

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Three Killed, Nine Injured in Gunmen Attack on Akunza Ashige, Nasarawa

Published

3 hours ago

December 31, 2025

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Spokesman, Nasarawa State Police Command, Ramhan Nansel

Three Killed, Nine Injured in Gunmen Attack on Akunza Ashige, Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Police Command has confirmed that three people were killed and nine others injured during a gunmen attack on the Akunza Ashige community in Lafia Local Government Area on Tuesday.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, told journalists on Wednesday that two victims were found dead at the scene, while a third succumbed to injuries at a nearby hospital.

Following a distress call, Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, deployed Mobile Police personnel and other tactical teams to the area to contain the situation.

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“During the response operation, two corpses were recovered, while nine injured persons were rescued and rushed to nearby hospitals, where they are currently receiving medical attention. One later died in the early hours of today,” Nansel stated.

The commissioner has directed senior officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, to conduct a comprehensive investigation to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.

“CP Mohammed has assured residents of Akunza Ashige and environs that the Command remains resolute and will not relent in its efforts until all those responsible for this heinous crime are brought to justice,” Nansel said.

The Police also urged community members to remain calm and provide timely and useful information to assist in the investigation.