Nigeria’s financial crimes agency on Thursday arrested former attorney general upon his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, over his alleged involvement in one of the oil industry’s biggest suspected corruption scandals, reported Reuters.
Mohammed Adoke, the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, was arrested by Interpol in November after he traveled to Dubai for a medical appointment. He was arrested over charges in connection with the Malabu Oil deal in Nigeria.
But the Interpol freed after the Nigeria government failed to provide a legal basis and other requisite bilateral supports to justify his continued detention. Adoke was made to sign an undertaking that will return to Nigeria and make him available to the EFCC upon his arrival. Adoke was accompanied by Interpol officers from the UAE on the Emirates Airlines flight 785 to Nigeria.
“His return to Nigeria clears the way for him to answer to the charges against him,” the EFCC said in a statement, following Adoke’s return to Nigeria.
Eni SpA and Royal Dutch Shell Plc jointly acquired the oil field from Malabu, which was owned by former petroleum minister Dan Etete. The sale of the oil field has resulted in legal cases across many countries. The cases involve some Nigerian government officials and senior executives from Eni and Royal Dutch Shell. Etete has denied any wrongdoing. Shell and Eni have also denied any wrongdoing.
Adoke’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, said the former attorney general was released by Interpol and Dubai authorities after no criminal charges against him.
“Our client remains very confident that he will be vindicated in the court of law and justice at the end of the day, after a free and fair trial,” Ozekhome said in a written statement.
Adoke was the attorney general from 2010 to 2015.
