Former President Goodluck Jonathan has reacted to the allegation that he
received gratification to approve the controversial Malabu Oil transaction
during his tenure.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, in Abuja on Tuesday,
Mr. Jonathan said he did not send businessman Abubakar Aliyu or any other
person to receive bribe on his behalf during or after the negotiation.
The former president also said he held no secret meeting with parties in
the transaction at anytime.
More to come….
MEANWHILE, READ FULL STATEMENT BELOW.
Our attention has been drawn to news reports published mostly by online
media which suggested through innuendo, rather than factual evidence, that
former President Goodluck Jonathan received kickbacks in the $1.3bn OPL 245 oil
block deal involving oil giants ENI and
Royal Dutch Shell.
With regards to the publication, we wish to make it clear that former
President Jonathan was not accused, indicted or charged for corruptly
collecting any monies as kickbacks or bribes from ENI by the Italian
authorities or any other law enforcement body the world over.
In the first place, we have to categorically state that the negotiations
and transactions for the oil block deal predate the Presidency of Dr. Goodluck
Ebele Jonathan which began on 6th May 2010 and ended on 29th May 2015.
It may interest those promoting this false narrative to know that all the
documents relating to the transactions, issues and decisions of the Federal
Government on the Malabo issue, during the Jonathan administration, are in the
office of the Attorney General of the Federation/Minister of Justice.
As President of Nigeria, there is no doubt that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan met
with executives of all the oil majors operating in Nigeria and urged them to,
amongst other things, support the growth of the Nigerian oil industry by
ramping up their investments and comply with the Local Content Act that he
promoted and signed into law.
We however wish to state, for emphasis, that at no time did the former
President hold private meetings with representatives of ENI to discuss
pecuniary issues. All the meetings and discussions former President Jonathan
had with ENI, other IOCs and some indigenous operators were conducted
officially, and in the presence of relevant Nigerian Government officials and
were done in the best interest of the country.
We make bold to point out that the former President never sent any
Abubakar Aliyu, as the innuendoes in the false report suggest, to ENI, the IOCs
or any indigenous operator to seek favour or collect any gratification on his
behalf.
We will like to point out for the umpteenth time that whether in office
or out of office, former President Jonathan does not own any bank account,
aircraft or real estate outside Nigeria. Anyone with contrary information is
challenged to publicly publish same.
As the President who signed the Freedom of Information Act into law, Dr.
Goodluck Jonathan lifted the veil on governance and encouraged transparency
knowing that evil breeds in secrecy. It is the opinion of the former President
that journalists and media houses should take
advantage of this law in their investigative journalism, rather than rely
on hearsay.
We hope that these clarifications will help guide future reports which
should be factual.
Ikechukwu Eze
Media Adviser to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan
(President 2010-2015)
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