A fresh controversy has emerged over the reported resolution of the long-running OPL 245 oil block dispute, as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has firmly rejected suggestions that his criticism of the settlement is driven by personal interest.
In a statement issued on Thursday through his media office, Atiku challenged remarks attributed to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, who had described opposition to the settlement as lacking patriotism and motivated by undisclosed self-interest.
Atiku insisted that his concerns are based entirely on documented legal records and ongoing judicial proceedings surrounding the controversial oil asset, not political calculation or private benefit.
According to the former vice president, the Attorney-General’s comments were misleading and appeared designed to divert attention from what he described as unresolved legal and factual questions surrounding the so-called settlement.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our position is anchored on publicly available documents, including the pre-action notice issued by Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, which raises serious legal objections to the purported resolution,” the statement said.
Atiku noted that the documents show key stakeholders have openly disputed the legitimacy of the claimed settlement, insisting they were neither consulted nor involved in any negotiation process.
He further argued that multiple court cases concerning the oil block are still pending before competent courts, making any declaration of final resolution premature.
“It is deeply troubling for the Attorney-General to dismiss concerns rooted in formal legal processes as self-interest,” the statement added.
The former vice president stressed that questioning decisions affecting one of Nigeria’s most strategic oil assets is a democratic responsibility, not political opposition.
He described OPL 245 as one of Nigeria’s most significant oil assets, long associated with complex litigation, ownership disputes, and international scrutiny.
Atiku also made a categorical denial of any connection to the asset.
“Atiku Abubakar does not have an interest in OPL 245, has never had an interest in OPL 245, and will never have an interest in OPL 245,” the statement declared.
He maintained that his intervention is guided solely by public interest, transparency, and the need to protect the rule of law.
The statement further urged the Attorney-General to address the legal substance of the concerns raised rather than dismissing them through rhetoric.
“No amount of propaganda can erase the existence of pending legal disputes or invalidate concerns already raised through proper legal channels,” Atiku’s media office said.
Calling for greater openness, Atiku argued that Nigeria’s credibility—both domestically and internationally—depends on adherence to due process and respect for documented facts.
Meanwhile, Fagbemi had earlier defended the reported settlement and faulted claims that disputes over the oil block remain unresolved.
The Attorney-General cited a recent Court of Appeal judgment in Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited v. Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd (2025), which dismissed Malabu’s challenge to the allocation of OPL 245 on the grounds that the suit was statute-barred and constituted an abuse of court process.
According to Fagbemi, continued criticism of the settlement raises serious questions about the motives behind such opposition.
“The ongoing opposition to this resolution is both revealing and deeply concerning,” he said.
“The persistence of these criticisms, despite clear legal, commercial, and national interest considerations, strongly suggests they are driven not by patriotism, but by undisclosed and self-serving interests.”
He added that efforts to challenge the settlement amount to attempts to obstruct what he described as a lawful and strategic move capable of unlocking significant value for Nigeria.
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