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Jonathan, Diezani named in Italian ‘kickback’ probe
By AFP | 09 January 2017 | 5:18 pm

Italian prosecutors have alleged that Nigeria’s former president Goodluck Jonathan and his oil minister received kickbacks as part of a $1.3 billion deal involving oil giants ENI and Shell.

Court documents filed late last month in the city of Milan and seen by AFP outline a case against 11 people, including senior executives from the two oil majors and the companies themselves.

Jonathan, who left office in May 2015, and Diezani Alison-Madueke, his long-time petroleum minister who was also the first woman president of OPEC, do not feature on the list.

But they are alleged to have played a central role in the deal, which saw ENI and Shell make a $1.3 billion payment in 2011 for an offshore oil block in Nigeria.
No formal charges have been brought and the parties usually have 20 days to respond to the conclusion of the preliminary investigation report before any formal prosecution.

ENI chief executive Claudio Descalzi and his predecessor Paolo Scaroni met Jonathan “in person” to thrash out the deal, which also involved former British intelligence agents working as advisors for Shell, it was alleged.

Prosecutors allege ENI and Shell executives worked with Nigerian businessman Dan Etete, who was oil minister under the military ruler Sani Abacha from 1995 to 1998.

Etete’s company Malabu was the “fraudulent holder” of the OPL 245 block, according to the court documents.

After talks in Milan and Abuja, the block was bought illegally by the oil majors in contravention of domestic laws, “without competitive tendering” and with “full, unconditional exemption from all national taxes”, prosecutors said.

A total of $801.5 million was allegedly transferred to Etete’s Malabu s, of which $466 million was converted into cash in Nigeria and used for remunerating government officials, including Jonathan and Alison-Madueke, prosecutors said.

A further $54 million was withdrawn by Abubakar Aliyu, whom prosecutors describe as an “agent” of Jonathan.

The beneficiaries of the money went on a shopping spree buying “property, aeroplanes, armoured cars,” prosecutors added.

– ‘No basis’ for prosecution –
ENI and Royal Dutch Shell have both denied wrongdoing.

Shell said in an email: “We are aware of the investigation and we hope to show the prosecutor that there is no basis to prosecute Shell.

“Shell takes this matter seriously and is co-operating with the authorities.”

Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has also recently pressed charges in connection with the same oil block deal.

Charges were “filed towards the end of last year”, EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren told AFP, without elaborating.

Anti-corruption campaigners view the case as a classic example of graft in Nigeria but also an indication of the difficulty in tackling the problem when it crosses international borders.

Alison-Madueke is facing a flurry of graft allegations in Nigeria and was arrested by Britain’s National Crime Agency on suspicion of bribery and money laundering in 2015.

She has denied the allegations.

Last week, the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered Alison-Madueke to temporary forfeit $153 million that was allegedly syphoned from state coffers.

For his part, Jonathan has denied that his government was corrupt and contested his successor Muhammadu Buhari’s claim that he inherited a “virtually empty” treasury.

Buhari secured a historic first win for an opposition leader in Nigeria’s history when he defeated Jonathan in presidential elections in March 2015.

He campaigned on a platform to target endemic corruption and has said “mind-boggling” sums of money have been stolen from the public purse.

His government has arrested a series of high-ranking officials from Jonathan’s istration on corruption charges but few have been convicted.

http://guardian.ng/news/jonathan-diezani-named-in-italian-kickback-probe/

The future is not bright for these folks. No matter the number of ers on Nairaland.

isher:
The future is not bright for these folks. No matter the number of ers on Nairaland.

Okay

hmmn

With Corruption on driver seat, Nigeria cannot PROGRESS.

WITHOUT proper INVESTIGATIONS, TRIALS &PROSECUTION AND RECOVERY OF LOOTED NATIONAL PATRIMONY, I doubt if any DETERRENT could be made of FUTURE LOOTERS

What a shame! And if I might ask, what exactly did these people intend to do with all the money they were amassing?

Our otueke son has done it again. Mr. Stealing is not corruption.

It's simply a probe. They will have to give us of the kickback fund. Probing them doesn't mean they pocketed it.

Parties involved denied this report including shell....... Until i hear from them before i my judgement...... I know wailers cannot wait to pounce on GEJ.... Just calm down..

Kick bac?

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mtshewwww kickback ko kickfront ni.....

Lie Buhari no dey tire?

SirJeffry:
It's simply a probe. They will have to give us of the kickback fund. Probing them doesn't mean they pocketed it.

Lolz. May God deliver u

blackpanda:


Lolz. May God deliver u

Amen bro

this seems contradictory...

if the actual charge makes no mention of GEJ, why is the report making so much effort to mention the man's name in every other sentence? (exgtn)

there is no major oil deal that has gone down in Nigeria since 1978 that HoS & petroleum minister have not had their dirty fingers in.

However, GEJ deserves all the opprobrium coming his way on matters of corruption.

not that his government was any more corrupt than the previous ones... but he should have known better.

You fraudulently make so much money that you cant even finish spending in several generations to come, buy several houses in people's name in a bid to play a fast one on anti graft agencies.. Buy houses abroad but will lodge in an hotel because you don't want security agencies to know u own a house there..is that not madness

Don Fortunato himself


The son of the soil

The man with no shoes


Who left with 140 Million people's wardrobe


May your smile never confuse anyone to vote for you again


Dan banza barawo

Jonathan, you will never go unpunished. You presided over the most corrupt government in the history of this country.

SirJeffry:
It's simply a probe. They will have to give us of the kickback fund. Probing them doesn't mean they pocketed it.

And this guy did not eat dinner last night because there was no food at home. Also, this morning, there is no hope for breakfast. But, he is ready to die for Jonathan and Diezani, mind you, imPatience Mama Piss has several billions in banks all over the world and Diezani Allison-Maduekwe does not even know how much billions she is worth.

No judge yourself using your church mind, who is stupid between you, the Jonathans and the Diezanis?

Jonathan is the worst thing that ever happened to Nigeria. He created all the problems Buhari government is trying to solve now including the controversial FRC.

Am not surprised

diezani again with that her bib big eyes.


nah tinubu suppose be her husband

Let justice take it place

I was shouting it then that Diezani is the most corrupt in that istration. Why she's not in jail yet is the only problem I have with PMB.

stealing is not corruption.......they said

Laughing in spiritual powers