The Abacha family disputes the Nigerian government's claim of resolving all court cases regarding Malabu Oil and Gas ownership. They issued a 14-day ultimatum for a retraction, citing ongoing legal battles over the $1.3 billion OML 245 oil block involving Shell and Eni, initially owned by the Abacha family.
The Abacha family has rebuffed the Nigerian government's assertion that all legal disputes related to Malabu Oil and Gas ownership have been settled. This claim, purportedly made by Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, was discredited by the Abacha family through a protest letter penned by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Reuben Okpanachi Atabo.
Atabo, representing the Abacha family, issued a 14-day ultimatum to Lokpobiri, demanding a retraction of his statements or face contempt of court charges. The protest letter, delivered to the offices of the Attorney General and the Oil Minister on July 5, highlighted the ongoing court cases regarding Malabu Oil and Gas and described Lokpobiri's comments as false and contemptuous.
Lokpobiri had announced at the Nigerian Oil and Gas Energy Week that negotiations to resolve the disputes over the Oil Mining License (OML 245) were completed, suggesting that production would soon resume. The Abacha family's Malabu Oil and Gas was initially granted the OML 245 license, which was revoked by the government in 2001. Although a settlement was reached in 2006, complications arose in 2011 when Shell and Eni acquired the oil block for $1.3 billion without the Abacha family's knowledge.
The Abacha family has since been entangled in various lawsuits to reclaim ownership of OML 245. The protest letter stressed that several cases remain unresolved, contradicting Lokpobiri's public remarks. Atabo emphasized that the family's interests were not represented in the 2011 resolution agreements, and they did not benefit from the sale proceeds.
In closing, Atabo's letter underscored the ongoing legal battles and requested a public retraction from Lokpobiri within 14 days, warning of potential legal action if the demand is not met.
