Adoke sues AGF over Malabu prosecution

A former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Bello Adoke, has sued the present AGF and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami over his (Adoke’s) prosecution in the Malabu oil saga.

The former AGF said his role in the saga was that of a facilitator to arrive at an amicable settlement between the various contending parties as directed by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Adoke in a suit filed at the Federal High Court Abuja challenging his prosecution by Malami said his action in effecting the settlement of the dispute was motivated by the need to avoid a colossal cost to the Federal Government, as awarded by the courts.

He stated that the terms of settlement upon which the Consent Judgment was predicated was executed as far back as 30th November, 2006 to amicably settle a suit brought by Malabu Oil and Gas Limited against the President and Commander in Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria; the Federal Government of Nigeria; the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation; the Ministry of Petroleum Resources; the Department of Petroleum Resources and Attorney General of the Federation.

According to an affidavit in support of the originating summons deposed to by one Oladapo Agboola of the Law Firm of Ade Okeaya-Ineh & Co representing Adoke, the role played by Adoke was based on acting on the directives and approvals of former president Jonathan.

It stated that Adoke throughout the period carried out the presidential directives “diligently, faithfully, impartially and in good faith and without any personal gain neither to himself nor to any other person except as was agreed to by the known parties to the dispute.”

The ex-minister through the suit urged the court to determine whether he could be held personally liable for acts done in furtherance of the lawful directives/approvals of the president in the exercise of the president’s executive powers vested in him by section 5(1) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution as amended.