A fresh dispute may be emerging over the purported resolution of the OPL 245 oil block case, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar rejecting claims by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, that criticisms of the deal are driven by self-interest.
Atiku faulted Fagbemi’s assertion that opposition voices lacked patriotism, insisting that concerns surrounding the settlement are grounded in verifiable legal records and ongoing court processes, rather than political motivations.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our position is firmly grounded in publicly available documents, including but not limited to the pre-action notice issued by Malabu Oil and Gas Limited to the relevant authorities, which raises serious legal objections to the purported settlement,” Atiku’s media office said in a Thursday statement.
The statement highlighted that key stakeholders were neither consulted nor involved in the negotiation process, and multiple suits on the asset remain pending before competent courts. Atiku emphasised that he holds no personal interest in OPL 245, asserting that his intervention is solely guided by public interest and the need to uphold the rule of law.
Atiku also urged the AGF to address the substantive legal issues rather than dismiss them. “Nigeria cannot build credibility—locally or internationally—by ignoring documented facts or dismissing legitimate questions. The rule of law must remain supreme,” his media office added.
Fagbemi, in response, cited a 2025 Court of Appeal ruling in Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited v. Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd, which dismissed Malabu’s challenge to the allocation of OPL 245 as statute-barred and an abuse of court process. He argued that ongoing criticisms of the resolution suggested undisclosed, self-serving motives rather than patriotism.
The high-profile OPL 245 dispute, one of Nigeria’s most valuable oil assets, has long been entangled in litigation and international scrutiny. The disagreement between former VP Atiku and the AGF underscores ongoing tensions over transparency, due process, and accountability in managing the nation’s strategic energy resources.
