Abuja – The media office of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has clarified that its stance on the OPL 245 dispute is rooted in public records and legal processes, not political self-interest, in response to remarks by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
Paul O. Ibe, speaking for Atiku, in a statement shared on social media, said comments suggesting that opposition voices on the matter are driven by personal gain are misleading and detract from the substantive legal and factual issues surrounding the so-called resolution of the OPL 245 matter.
“Our position is firmly grounded in publicly available documents, including the pre-action notice issued by Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, which raises serious legal objections to the purported settlement,” the statement read. It noted that key stakeholders have disputed the legitimacy of the claimed resolution, stressing that they were not consulted or involved in any negotiation process, and that multiple suits on the asset remain pending in court.
The statement emphasized that raising questions based on verifiable records is not opposition but a constitutional responsibility. “The issues at stake are too serious for political spin. OPL 245 is one of the most consequential oil assets in Nigeria, long entangled in complex litigation and international scrutiny,” it added.
The statement also clarified that Atiku Abubakar has never had an interest in OPL 245 and that the intervention is guided solely by the public interest and the need to uphold the rule of law.
The media office urged the Attorney-General to focus on addressing substantive legal issues instead of dismissing legitimate concerns as propaganda. “Nigeria cannot build credibility—locally or internationally—by ignoring documented facts or dismissing legitimate questions. The rule of law must remain supreme,” the statement concluded.