$1.3 billion Malabu Oil Deal: Allegation A Recycled Falsehood Blatantly Dishonest, Says Jonathan
A former President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan has described as a recycled falsehood that is blatantly dishonest, cheap, and predictable the allegation that he accepted bribes in order “to broker a $1.3 billion oil deal eight years ago”
Jonathan was reacting to the report that lawyers of the Federal Government had filed a case in London accusing him of the alleged bribery on the controversial Malabu oil deal.
The former President disclosed that he had never opened a bank account outside Nigeria nor does he own any property outside the country.
The defence was a statement signed by his media aide, Mr Ikechukwu Eze, on Sunday.
Mr Eze said there was nothing new in the allegation, adding that he had debunked the same in the past.
He said, “Former President Goodluck Jonathan did not ask for or collect any bribes, neither has he been charged for asking or collecting bribes, neither will he ever be charged with asking for or collecting bribes, because such never happened.
“That this particular dispute predated the Jonathan administration and survives it. That former President Jonathan is 61 years old and throughout his life has never opened an account, nor owned property outside Nigeria.”
He challenged those behind “this latest propaganda” to make deposition (in court) on it.
The Ex-President media aide said those behind the allegation are with an inferiority complex who cannot stand the international recognition and the celebration of the former President.
He added, “In fact, we expected something like this ever since it was announced that former President Jonathan would lead the Election Observation Mission of the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa to South Africa’s national and provincial elections.
“We are well aware that this claim was intentioned to eclipse the goodwill and positive reports of former President Jonathan’s diligent engagement in South Africa’s national and provisional elections.
“The fact that most major media houses in the country refused to republish this falsehood bears out our conviction that Nigerians can no longer be deceived by hollow and diversionary claims of corruption, in the face of worsening state of affairs in the country.
“We have always made it clear that beyond this wave of conjecture, former President Jonathan was not linked, indicted or charged with collecting any monies as kickbacks or bribes from ENI by the Italian authorities or any other law enforcement body the world over.
“It bears repeating that the documents relating to the transactions and decisions of the Federal Government on the Malabo issue, during the Jonathan administration, are in the relevant Government offices, where they are accessible.
“We would like to point out that all the actions taken by the Jonathan administration in relation to activities in the oil industry were legally conducted by relevant Nigerian Government officials and were carried out in the best interest of the country.”
He authoritatively stated that the former President whether as a President or ex-President never owned a house and a bank account outside Nigeria.
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