A former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke has said that he lost his reputation and family life in the prosecution of the OPL245 oil block litigation.
Adoke said this at the public presentation of his memoir, “OPL245: Inside Story of the $1.3 billion Nigerian oil block”, in Abuja on Thursday, July 10.
Speaking at the event, the former AGF and Minister of Justice said he has forgiven all his transgressors on the matter.
According to Adoke, the presentation of his memoir is not aimed at denigrating anyone but to help set the records straight on the activities and events surrounding OPL45 oil block and the litigation process.
The former AGF also accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, its investigators and prosecutors of suppressing evidence and intimidating prospective witnesses in the matter.
He said, “I did not set out to denigrate anyone but to set the records straight and provide valuable insights into a transaction that was not only carried out in furtherance of the national interest but also to safeguard Nigeria’s economic interest as it relates to the exploitation of our hydrocarbon resources.
“Although I was not a party to the 2006 agreement which preceded my appointment as the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, my traducers – state and non-state actors – alike ensure that I suffer immense public odium, loss of reputation, and family life for the role I played in ensuring the implementation of an agreement in 2011,” Adoke stated.
He also noted that during the period under review, he was only carrying out the lawful directives handed to him by the president.
“Notwithstanding, I was only carrying out the lawful directive of the president in the exercise of his executive powers under the Constitution.
“Permit me to say that I have forgiven all those who had a hand in my ordeal.
“With the public presentation of this book, I say boldly and clearly that I admired the courage of Ibrahim Mustapha Magu in coming forward to make up with me, apologise to me, and sympathise for the role each and every one of them played in my travail. I have forgiven him,” he noted.
