The family of the late General Sani Abacha has refuted the federal government’s claim that all legal disputes concerning the ownership of Malabu Oil and Gas have been resolved.
The claim, allegedly made by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, at a public function in Abuja, has been dismissed by the Abacha family.
In a protest letter written by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Reuben Okpanachi Atabo, the Abacha family issued a 14-day ultimatum to Lokpobiri to retract his statement or face contempt of court charges. The letter was received at the offices of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Oil Minister on July 5.
The Abacha family stressed that Lokpobiri’s claim, made during the opening session of the “Nigerian Oil and Gas Energy Week,” was false and disregarded ongoing court cases concerning the ownership of Malabu Oil and Gas.
Lokpobiri reportedly stated that ongoing negotiations to end the disputes surrounding Oil Mining License (OML) 245 had been concluded, paving the way for the oil block to resume production in the national interest.
Malabu Oil and Gas, owned by the Abacha family, was initially granted ownership of the OML 245 oil block in the southern Niger Delta. However, in 2001, the federal government, under President Olusegun Obasanjo, revoked Malabu’s licence. The company challenged the revocation in court in 2006, and the matter was settled out of court during President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration.
The dispute resurfaced in 2011 when Shell and Eni acquired OML 245 for $1.3 billion from Malabu, in a deal approved by the Nigerian government without the Abacha family’s knowledge. Since then, the family has engaged in a series of lawsuits to reclaim ownership of the lucrative oil block.
The protest letter by the senior lawyer read, in part, “We act as solicitors to Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Abacha, and Pecos Energy Ltd, and on whose authority and firm instructions we write to you. Our clients’ attention has been drawn to the remarks made by the Hon. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources at the opening session of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Energy Week to the effect that all legal issues relating to OPL 245 have been resolved and that the coast is clear for investors to come and invest in OML 245.”
The letter emphasised that in 2011, resolution agreements involving the Nigerian government, Shell, and Agip were made without the representation of the Abacha family. It further stated that various ongoing court cases concerning OPL 245 contradict Lokpobiri’s remarks.
The Abacha family’s lawyer noted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has also pursued criminal charges related to the purported sale. The letter highlighted that the controversy surrounding OPL 245 led to the establishment of an Ad-Hoc Committee by the House of Representatives to investigate Malabu Oil & Gas and its economic potential.
The lawyer argued that Lokpobiri’s remarks were misleading and undermined the authority of the courts, emphasising the importance of the rule of law in a democratic system. The letter concluded with a demand for Lokpobiri to issue a retraction within 14 days, failing which legal action would be taken.
The Abacha family’s legal representative affirmed their commitment to pursuing justice and ensuring that the rightful ownership of OPL 245 is upheld by the courts.
