EFCC files charges against Adoke, Etete, others over Malabu oil deal

• Agency too corrupt to fight corruption, says Fayose
• Clark faults judiciary, commission in anti-graft campaign
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday filed a nine-count charge against the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke over his role in the ‎Malabu $1.1 billion Malabu oil deal.

Others joined in the charge are former Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete, a businessman, Abubakar Aliyu as well as a former Minister of State, Finance, Mr. Yerima Ngama.

In the nine-count charge filed at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, Adoke and Ngama were alleged to have approved the transfer of about $1.1 billion into Nigerian accounts controlled by Mr. Etete.

The said amount was said to have been paid by oil giants, Shell and ENI, ‎into the Federal Government account for OPL 245 oil bloc, which was considered the richest in Africa.

After the transfer to Etete, over half of the money was paid to accounts of shady companies controlled by Aliyu.

Although Adoke had repeatedly claimed not to commit any offense, it was alleged that investigations by authorities in Nigeria, United Kingdom and Italy have linked him to the scandal.

However, Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has described the EFCC as a corrupt organisation that cannot prosecute any meaningful fight against corruption.

The governor however, commended the judiciary for standing firm against the EFCC alleged tyranny, stating that the way and manner the commission has been going about shopping for court orders against Nigerians should concern lovers of rule of law in the country.

Speaking in a similar vein, Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark said that the activities of the anti-graft agencies and members of the bar and the bench might seriously affect the war against corruption.

In a letter to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), which was read to journalists yesterday at Kiagbodo, Delta State, Clark alleged that “the bar and the bench” are frustrating efforts by Buhari and past administrations to fight corruption.