ABUJA, Nigeria — Former President Goodluck Jonathan has described the legal ordeal faced by Mohammed Bello Adoke, his former attorney-general and minister of justice, as a global manhunt orchestrated after his administration left office in 2015.
Speaking on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Abuja at the public presentation of Adoke’s memoir, OPL 245: Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Nigerian Oil Block, Jonathan—represented by former Senate President Pius Anyim—praised Adoke for his courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice.
“The author of this memoir, Mr. Bello Adoke, was the attorney-general of the federation at that time. He was hunted across the globe,” Jonathan said.
“But today, he’s alive, he’s healthy, he’s here to tell his story.”
He described the occasion not just as a book launch but as a celebration of victory over persecution, noting that “many officers of my administration were unfairly targeted by the succeeding government.”
Jonathan emphasised that Adoke’s memoir “upholds truth” and serves as a vital contribution to national healing and historical accuracy.
“The essence of the author’s effort in documenting his memoir is not only to put the record straight but to contribute to the cause of truth and justice as the foremost pillars of nation building,” he said.
Reflecting on the lessons of leadership, Jonathan reminded current and aspiring public servants that “power belongs to God”, urging those entrusted with public office to pursue truth, justice, and fairness.
“Any society or organisation that does not promote justice and fairness will neither have peace nor make progress,” he warned.
The former president also congratulated Adoke for mustering the “wisdom and courage” to put his side of the story on record and commended him for his “doggedness” throughout his trials.
The memoir chronicles Adoke’s central role in the controversial OPL 245 deal involving Malabu Oil and Gas, Shell, and Eni.
Originally awarded to Malabu in 1998 during the Sani Abacha regime, the oil block became the subject of a $1.1 billion transaction in 2011, facilitated under Jonathan’s presidency.
Global watchdogs and prosecutors alleged the deal was a front for large-scale bribery of Nigerian officials.
While the Buhari administration pursued criminal charges against Adoke in Nigeria, Italian prosecutors brought cases against Shell, Eni, and other key figures.
International media and NGOs closely followed the case for nearly a decade.
But in recent years, a series of acquittals and case dismissals have shifted the narrative:
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In Italy, a Milan court acquitted all the defendants, citing lack of evidence.
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In the UK, a $1.7 billion suit against JP Morgan by Nigeria failed for similar reasons.
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In the United States, the Department of Justice and SEC dropped their investigations.
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In Nigeria, two separate Federal High Courts acquitted Adoke of all charges.
In the book, Adoke names former President Muhammadu Buhari, several international lawyers, and foreign NGOs as key actors who sustained the narrative of criminality around OPL 245.
Despite this, the former AGF says he has chosen the path of forgiveness.
“I have forgiven everyone behind the ordeal,” he wrote.
The memoir, launched at a high-profile gathering in Abuja, is already being seen as one of the most significant political autobiographies of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
It not only sheds light on the inner workings of one of the country’s biggest legal sagas, but also challenges the narratives that shaped public opinion and policy for nearly a decade.
As former President Jonathan concluded in his speech: “This book is more than a defence — it is a testament to survival, truth, and the enduring power of justice.”
