Malabu oil scandal: Sagay faults Malami on withdrawal of charges against accused persons

macfranc007 February 20, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 David Oladele

- Professor Itse Sagay (SAN) declared that $1.1 billion Malabu oil scam is a criminal matter

- Sagay faulted attorney general of the federation Abubakar Malami for advising the government to drop all the charges filed against individuals and firms implicated in the matter

- He also faulted Malami’s claim that there was not enough evidence to prosecute the accused people

The chairman, presidential advisory committee against corruption, Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), accused the attorney general of the federation Abubakar Malami (SAN) of telling the federal government to drop all the charges filed against individuals and firms implicated in the $1.1bn Malabu oil scam.

Sagay made this known during an interview with Punch on Monday, February 19.

The PACAC chairman declared that the matter was criminal in nature and should therefore not be treated as a civil matter.

He said: ''My view is that this is not a civil case or breach of contract or negligence. This is an offence against the country, a criminal act. Although the AGF is empowered to withdraw even criminal cases filed by the federal government, this is supposed to satisfy the interest of the country at large.

''This is a case in which Nigeria was defrauded of about $1.1bn and it was perpetrated mainly by those who were supposed to act in the interest of the nation.

''For me, such breach of trust involving colossal fraud is a very serious thing. It is not something you negotiate. It is criminal. The only thing that can happen is for the accused people to plead guilty and opt for plea bargain.''

Sagay also faulted Malami’s claim that there was not enough evidence to prosecute the accused people.

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The PACAC chairman added, ''On this same case, people are being prosecuted in Italy and in Britain a lot of money has been recovered. So, it is strange to say that in the home turf, where it all originated and where all the evidences exist, there is no evidence. It is strange.

''It is also a problem because we know without any iota of doubt that past attorneys general have made money from this Malabu scandal. I am not talking of the current one. They have made money which is documented.

''For him to say the case should be withdrawn will look as if there is some form of solidarity or espirit de corps with previous AGFs. If the evidence is not enough, let the charges be withdrawn and they go do more investigations, gather more evidence, and then file charges again. But to say Nigeria should drop the case completely after losing over $1bn is unacceptable.''

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that there were indicates that Malami wrote a letter to President Buhari advising the president on the need for Nigeria to have a stake in the prolific OPL 245.

According to the report, the oil block, considered to be the richest in Africa, was awarded to Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd in 1998 and after a series of controversy, Malabu sold 100% to Eni (Agip) and Shell.

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