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+--- Thread: I met officials of oil companies but I didn’t receive bribe – Goodluck Jonathan (/showthread.php?tid=1548)
I met officials of oil companies but I didn’t receive bribe – Goodluck Jonathan - Mhiz Rebecca - 01-11-2017
The immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan has
dismissed claims of collecting kickbacks in the $1.3
billion OPL 245 oil block deal involving oil giants – ENI
and Royal Dutch Shell, saying he met with the
executives of the companies but didn’t partake of any
illegality.
Reports had it earlier today that Jonathan and former
Minister of Petroleum Resources; Diezani Alison-
Madueke got kickbacks that run into billions of dollars
from the two oil companies.
Jonathan was indicted by some Italian investigators
who alleged that one Abubakar Aliyu, an “agent” of
Jonathan, withdrew $54 million out of $801.5 million
allegedly transferred to Malabu’s accounts.
But Jonathan in a statement through his media aide,
Ikechukwu Eze said at no time did he “hold a private
meeting with representatives of ENI to discuss
pecuniary issues.”
He noted that the records of the transactions in Malabu
deals were in the office of the Attorney-General of the
Federation.
The statement reads; “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.
“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.
“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 Malabu issue, during the Jonathan
administration, are in the office of the attorney general
of the federation/minister of Justice.
“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.”