HEDA Accuses Former AGF Adoke of Falsehoods in New Book, Vows to Expose Role in $1.1 Billion Malabu Oil Deal

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre has accused former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, of peddling falsehoods in his recently released memoir, describing his account of the controversial Malabu oil deal as misleading and self-serving.

Adoke, in the book titled “Burden of Service: Reminiscences of Nigeria’s Former Attorney-General”, claimed he acted within the law and under presidential directives when facilitating the 2011 resolution of a long-standing legal dispute over Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245, a deal which saw oil giants Shell and Eni pay over $1.1 billion to the Nigerian government. HEDA, in a statement issued over the weekend, rejected Adoke’s version of events, accusing him of attempting to rewrite history and mislead Nigerians about his role in what is widely regarded as one of the country’s largest corruption scandals. The organisation alleged that Adoke played a key role in enabling the diversion of public funds meant for the Nigerian people. “The book is not only misleading but also part of a wider campaign of disinformation by individuals who are seeking to rewrite history,” HEDA stated. “We shall respond robustly with facts, not fiction. Nigerians deserve to know the truth about how public officials exploited state resources for private gain under the guise of legal settlements.” The Malabu oil deal, which dates back to 1998, involved the controversial allocation of OPL 245 to Malabu Oil and Gas, a company linked to former Petroleum Minister Dan Etete. In 2011, during the Goodluck Jonathan administration, the oil block was sold to Shell and Eni for $1.1 billion in a settlement facilitated by the federal government. Investigations later revealed that a large portion of the funds was routed to private individuals, sparking global outcry and criminal investigations in Nigeria and several other countries. Adoke, who was arrested in 2019 and later charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), insists he merely carried out his official duties in the transaction and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. In his book, he accused the EFCC, HEDA, foreign NGOs, and some officials in the Buhari administration of conducting a politically motivated witch-hunt to tarnish his reputation. HEDA, however, dismissed these allegations as baseless and promised to publish documents and evidence that would further expose Adoke’s involvement in the scandal. The group emphasized its commitment to fighting corruption and holding public officials accountable. “This is not just about Adoke; it is about restoring accountability and ensuring that high-level corruption in Nigeria is not rewarded with impunity. We will not be silenced,” the organisation declared. Legal analysts say the latest clash between HEDA and Adoke may rekindle public scrutiny of the Malabu oil deal and intensify calls for justice in a case that has drawn international attention and remains unresolved in the minds of many Nigerians.