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Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi over the federal government’s handling of the OPL 245 dispute, insisting that no amount of rhetoric can resolve the matter.
The disagreement follows the federal government’s recent announcement of a settlement involving Eni and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited, which the AGF described as a milestone in repositioning Nigeria’s economic outlook. However, Atiku dismissed the claim, describing the supposed resolution as “political theatrics” and maintaining that the dispute remains far from settled.
In a fresh response through his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku said the AGF’s remarks were misleading and an attempt to divert attention from the legal and factual issues surrounding the oil block.
He argued that multiple court cases are still pending and that key stakeholders were excluded from the process.
“No amount of rhetoric can erase the existence of pending legal disputes or invalidate concerns already raised through formal legal channels,” the statement said.
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Atiku further stated that his position is grounded in publicly available documents, including a pre-action notice issued by Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, which challenges the legitimacy of the settlement and raises concerns about due process.
He stressed that raising such issues is a constitutional responsibility, not opposition for its own sake, adding that OPL 245 remains one of Nigeria’s most significant oil assets, long entangled in complex litigation and international scrutiny.
The former vice-president called for transparency, adherence to due process, and respect for ongoing judicial proceedings, warning that attempts to downplay legitimate concerns could undermine Nigeria’s credibility both locally and internationally.
