The Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA) and its global partners have asked President Muhammadu Buhari, in line with his anti-corruption fight, to continue with the prosecution of all corrupt officials associated with the Malabu oil scandal deal.
Olanrewaju Suraju, Chairman of HEDA, in a statement issued on Sunday commended the Nigerian Government for the fresh legal case instituted in a United Kingdom court noting that it shows “a clear admission that local officials were hands-deep in fraudulent deals running into billions of dollars.”
Suraju said the Malabu scandal was a huge opportunity for the Nigerian government to show to the international community that it is truly committed to its fight against corruption by ensuring all involved in the scandal are convicted.
HEDA, together with its partners, presented a report in November 2018 revealing some of the government officials involved in the Malabu deal.
In the report, several Nigerian officials including former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu and many oil subsidiary companies were named in the scandal, which has been the subject of litigation in Milan, Italy.
Other top Nigerians listed are Emeka Obi of EVP, son of former Nigerian Senator and defendant. He was convicted in the Italian criminal proceedings to have provided a link between Etete and Eni. The following were also named Mohammed Bello Adoke, Attorney General of the Federation, (2010 to April 29, 2015), Diezeni Alison Madueke, Minister of Petroleum, April 6 2010, to May 28, 2015, and Umar Bature, a former House of Representative member.
