Buhari Administration Launched Witch-Hunt Against My Officials After 2015 – Goodluck Jonathan Says

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed that, following the end of his tenure in 2015, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari targeted several key officials from his government in what he described as a political witch-hunt.

Speaking at the public presentation of a book titled "OPL 245: Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Nigeria Oil Block", authored by former Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, Jonathan recalled how Adoke was hunted globally over the OPL-245 matter.

"Shortly after my tenure ended in 2015, the succeeding government launched what many saw as a manhunt against key officers of my administration," Jonathan said. 

"The author of this memoir, Mr Bello Adoke, was the Attorney-General of the Federation at that time. He was hunted across the globe."

Jonathan congratulated Adoke for his doggedness and noted that his memoir upholds the truth. 

"But today, he is alive, he is healthy, and he is here to tell his story," Jonathan said. 

"Let me, therefore, use this occasion to congratulate Mr Bello Adoke, my friend and brother, for his doggedness, and to say that I am pleased to join you in celebrating this victory."

The former President emphasised the importance of truth, justice, and fairness in nation-building. 

"I must state, as always, that it is widely acknowledged among all civilisations that any society or organisation that does not promote justice and fairness will neither have peace nor make progress," he said.

Jonathan noted that Adoke's memoir contributes to the cause of truth and justice, which he described as the foremost pillars of nation-building. 

"The essence of Adoke documenting his memoir was not only to set the record straight but to contribute to the cause of truth and justice," he said.

The OPL-245 case, also known as the Malabu Oil deal scandal, centres on the acquisition of Oil Prospecting Licence 245 — an oil block in Nigeria — by Shell and Eni in 2011 for $1.3 billion.

The case started from allegations that a significant portion of the payment, specifically $1.1bn, was channelled through intermediaries as bribes to Nigerian officials and politicians.

OPL 245 was initially awarded to Malabu Oil and Gas in 1998 by the Gen. Sani Abacha administration.

However, the block became the subject of global corruption investigations, criminal prosecutions, and civil lawsuits after Malabu sold its entire stake to Shell and Eni in 2011.

Adoke, who was initially accused of wrongdoing by the Buhari administration, was eventually discharged and acquitted both in Nigeria and abroad.