EFCC launches manhunt for ex-oil minister over $1.1bn Malabu scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has launched a manhunt for a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dan Etete, who was charged with money laundering and fraud in Italy and Nigeria.
Sources within the EFCC said that the suspect, who was accused of perpetrating a $1.1bn fraud through his company, Malabu Oil & Gas Limited, had allegedly rendered himself incommunicado, making it difficult for the EFCC to serve him with court papers.
A senior detective at the EFCC said, “We have been trying to contact Etete, but from all indications, he seems to be on the run. Now that he has been charged in an Italian court, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation will coordinate with the Italian government.
“We have transferred the Malabu fraud case to the AGF and he will decide on the next line of action. It is doubtful that he is in Nigeria, but we will continue to look for him.
“Since he is under investigation in the United Kingdom, Italy and the United States, he will not be able to hide. All the relevant security agencies will join hands in finding him.”
It was learnt that Etete’s alleged accomplice, Abubakar Aliyu, who the Italian authorities said was a front for former President Goodluck Jonathan, would face extradition hearing soon.
Aliyu, who is the Chairman of A.A Group, was declared wanted by Italian authorities. It, however, remains unclear if Jonathan will also be invited for questioning in Italy.
The Malabu scam, described as one of the most fraudulent oil deals in the world, involved the payment of $1.1bn by oil giants, Shell and Eni, to the Federal Government accounts in 2011 for OPL 245, said to hold reserves of about 9.23 billion barrels of oil.
The OPL 245 was alleged to have been bought by Etete under questionable circumstances in 1998 when he was the minister of petroleum. Etete was said to have bought it for a fraction of its actual value. However, the oil licence was revoked by the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

During the administration of Jonathan in 2011, the then AGF, Mohammed Adoke, brokered a deal for the sale of the same oil bloc, acting as a middleman between Shell and Eni on the one hand, and Etete’s company, Malabu, on the other hand.
Shell and Eni were said to have paid about $1.3bn for the OPL 245, which was paid into two escrow accounts owned by the Federal Government. However, Adoke was alleged to have transferred over $800m to Etete who, in turn, transferred over $500m to Aliyu, Jonathan’s alleged front.
Prosecutors in the UK had previously alleged that $523m of Shell and Eni’s payment went to alleged “fronts for former President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria” as part of a deal that was effectively a “smash and grab” on Nigeria.
The UK authorities froze $85m in Etete’s bank account while $170m was frozen in its Switzerland account.
Justice Edis of the Southwark Crown Court in London had, last year, described the Malabu scam as questionable, accusing Jonathan of not doing enough to protect the interest of Nigeria.
According to the judge, evidence from the US authorities presented to the court “shows payments following circuitous routes, which totalled $523m, and arrived at Abubakar Aliyu, aka ‘Mr. Corruption’… Aliyu’s companies are allegedly fronts for President Goodluck Jonathan.”
Justice Edis said, “The suggestion from the wiretaps is that ‘Fortunato’ was implicated and I am told that this was a reference in code (not subtle) to the former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan. Aliyu is said to be associated with him and Aliyu received, in a way which was not transparent, $523m of the money paid for the OPL 245 licence in August 2011.”
Should Etete and others be found guilty of fraud in Italy, they risk spending 12 years in jail.
Oil giants, Shell and Eni, as well as some executives of the companies, are set to be arraigned in a Milan court.

Suicide Bomber Blasts Maiduguri on New Year's eve

Picture from the Blast

A suicide hit Maiduguri, the Borno State capital on New Year's Eve, as indicated by the police spokesman in Maiduguri , Victor Isuku. 

Isiaku in an sms to a reporter said, "information reaching me now is that there was a blast at custom region. 

"Preparatory points of interest accessible is that lone the suicide was killed. Presently on standby for more details soonest." 

A resident, Abba Mustapha said the bomber hit a tea drinking joint at customs close to the Nigerian Customs Service office. 

He said that numerous people were murdered in the blast.

Lagos journalist shares horrifying pictures of a cemetery in lagos

Lagos Journalist who goes by the name Aderibigbe Adeola Gentlesoul shared these horrific pictures on his Facebook page after a visit to Imota Cemetery in Lagos

Toronto sisters in Nigeria released on bail, accused of trying to blackmail billionaire: reports

Two sisters in Nigeria with ties to Toronto have been released on bail after being detained for allegedly attempting to blackmail a billionaire with claims he cheated on his wife.

According to the website Politics Nigeria, Jyoti and Kiran Matharoo operated a website called naijagistlive. It’s alleged the sisters cyber-bullied several high-ranking men, including a billionaire named Femi Otedola, and accused them of cheating and seeing prostitutes.

Politics Nigeria said the sisters tried to blackmail Otedola by claiming they had evidence of him having an affair.

“They demanded money in order not to go public with the details. This was their ‘modus operandi’,” the article read.

“It was also discovered that the girls recorded conversations and s*x (sic) romps with their rich clients which comprise of politicians, club owners and businessmen.”

The report said the sisters contacted the clients through a third party and demanded they pay “thousands of dollars or risk the release of the recordings/pictures/videos online through their website.”

Politics Nigeria said sources told them Otedola contacted police to report the blackmail attempt. It said the sisters made “a confessional statement” saying they were behind the website and made an apology to Otedola.

The article said the sisters were arraigned at the Yaba Megistrate Court on Friday. The case will be heard again on Jan. 26.

The online article contains a picture of a document entitled “Criminal Undertaking” which lists several allegations.

“I encouraged the use of these platforms (the website, a Twitter account and an Instagram account) for the malicious and unfounded attacks of third parties, assuring the protection of the identities of the contributors in return for more content,” the document read in part, which has not been independently confirmed by Global News.

“From time to time, I charged various individuals for the removal of certain content posted on the site, as well as for the posting of certain information about various people,” it also said.

The document has the name Taranjot Matharoo printed at the top with a west-end Toronto address and it is signed by Kiranjot Matharoo at the bottom, along with a Toronto-based phone number.

There is also a similar document posted that was signed by a Babetunde Oyebede, who is listed at a Nigerian address.

A spokeswoman from Global Affairs Canada said in a statement that consular services are being provided to Canadian citizens detained in Lagos, Nigeria. However, she said further details couldn’t be released due to privacy issues.

Salem Moussallam, who said he has been friends with the sisters for around five years, described the pair as “socialites” and said he was “very shocked” about what happened.

He said the sisters have been released on bail and the situation has been “blown way too much out of proportion.”

“How about the other people? It takes two to tango here, if you know anything. If one person is doing something, the other person is doing something bad,” Moussallam said".

Moussallam said he spoke with Jyoti as recently as Monday.

“They’re saying, ‘We’re all right. We’re fine. We’ll come and see you – back soon. We’re going to be going to (Las) Vegas,’” adding the pair don’t live in Nigeria.

Global News hasn’t been able to independently confirm the allegations contained in the Politics Nigeria article.

Cindy Pom contributed to this report