OPL 245 Critics Driven by Self-Interest, Not Patriotism — AGF Fagbemi
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, has accused critics of the Federal Government’s resolution of the long-standing OPL 245 dispute of pursuing selfish interests rather than acting in the national interest.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the AGF dismissed claims attributed to the media office of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, describing them as misleading and an attempt to downplay what he called a landmark achievement by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Fagbemi traced the origins of the dispute to 1998, when the OPL 245 oil block was first awarded to Malabu Oil & Gas Limited, before its revocation in 2001 and subsequent reallocation in 2002 to Shell Nigeria Ultra-Deep Limited. The development sparked years of legal battles and public scrutiny.
According to the AGF, the 2011 Resolution Agreement involving the Federal Government, Malabu, and other stakeholders settled the ownership dispute, with Malabu relinquishing its claims while the block was reallocated to Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited and Nigerian Agip Exploration.
He noted that the transactions underwent extensive judicial scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Italy, with no wrongdoing established against the companies involved.
Fagbemi further revealed that Nigeria faced potential liabilities exceeding $2 billion following arbitration proceedings initiated at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) over delays in converting the oil block into an Oil Mining Lease. He said the Tinubu administration’s intervention helped avert financial exposure and paved the way for development.
Describing OPL 245 as one of Nigeria’s most commercially viable offshore assets, located about 150 kilometres from the coast, the AGF said the resolution could boost national oil production by about 150,000 barrels per day and strengthen energy security.
He also cited a 2025 Court of Appeal judgment which dismissed Malabu’s challenge to the block’s allocation, affirming that the case was statute-barred and an abuse of court process.
“The ongoing opposition to this resolution is deeply concerning and suggests undisclosed, self-serving motives,” Fagbemi said, warning that such narratives risk undermining efforts to unlock economic benefits for Nigerians.
He urged citizens to reject attempts to derail what he described as a lawful and strategic resolution capable of delivering revenue growth, investor confidence, and national development.
