Abuja, January 6, 2024: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) admitted that it lacks substantial evidence to support the charges of fraud, bribery, and conspiracy against the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke. In response to the no-case submission filed by Adoke, the EFCC informed the FCT high court that it would not oppose the application.
The charges were related to the OPL 245 transaction of 2011, with Adoke listed as the first defendant. The anti-graft agency also revealed that it would not oppose the no-case applications filed by other defendants, including Aliyu Abubakar, Rasky Gbinigie (Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd company secretary), Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd, Nigeria Agip Exploration Ltd, Shell Ultra Deep Nigeria Ltd, and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo), concerning some of the charges.
While indicating its support for the no-case submissions from most defendants, the EFCC emphasized that Gbinigie still has a case to answer regarding the alleged forgery of company documents to remove the name of Mohammed Abacha as a director of Malabu Oil & Gas.
Recall that the EFCC had previously charged Adoke before the FCT high court in Abuja, alleging that he received a gratification of N300 million from Abubakar over the OPL 245 resolution. Adoke vehemently denied all allegations, asserting that the N300 million, classified as bribery by the EFCC, was a mortgage he obtained from Unity Bank Plc in 2012. He explained that the amount was directly transferred by the bank to Abubakar’s account and was subsequently refunded by Abubakar in 2013 when Adoke faced challenges in meeting his equity contribution.
