FORMER president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, for the first time, reacted to the allegation that he received gratification to approve the controversial Malabu Oil transaction during his tenure.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, in Abuja, on Tuesday, Jonathan said he did not send the businessman, Abubakar Aliyu, or any other person to receive bribe on his behalf during or after the negotiation.
The former president also said he held no secret meeting with parties in the transaction at anytime.
Online media were awash with the story that the former president received kickbacks in the $1.3 billionn OPL 245 oil block deal involving oil giants ENI and Royal Dutch Shell.
“With regards to the publication, we wish to make it clear that former President Jonathan was not accused, indicted or charged for corruptly collecting any monies as kickbacks or bribes from ENI by the Italian authorities or any other law enforcement body the world over.
“In the first place, we have to categorically state that the negotiations and transactions for the oil block deal predate the presidency of Dr Goodluck Jonathan, which began on May 6, 2010 and ended on May 29, 2015.
“It may interest those promoting this false narrative to know that all the documents relating to the transactions, issues and decisions of the Federal Government on the Malabu issue during the Jonathan administration are in the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation/Minister of Justice.
“As President of Nigeria, there is no doubt that Dr Jonathan met with executives of all the oil majors operating in Nigeria and urged them to, amongst other things, support the growth of the Nigerian oil industry by ramping up their investments and comply with the Local Content Act that he promoted and signed into law.
“We however wish to state, for emphasis, that at no time did the former president hold private meetings with representatives of ENI to discuss pecuniary issues.
“All the meetings and discussions former President Jonathan had with ENI, other IOCs and some indigenous operators were conducted officially, and in the presence of relevant Nigerian government officials and were done in the best interest of the country.
“We make bold to point out that the former president never sent any Abubakar Aliyu, as the innuendoes in the false report suggest, to ENI, the IOCs or any indigenous operator to seek favour or collect any gratification on his behalf.
“We will like to point out for the umpteenth time that whether in office or out of office, former President Jonathan does not own any bank account, aircraft or real estate outside Nigeria. Anyone with contrary information is challenged to publicly publish same,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), has advised the Federal Government and its international allies to halt the probe of the Malabu oil deal.
Mr Udengs Eradiri, IYC president, alleged that the probe of the Malabu oil block deal was a witchhunt targeted at Chief Dan Etete, despite the fact that other oil blocks awarded under the same bid rounds were not being probed.
The group asked the Federal Government to extend the probe to cover other oil blocks.
It also condemned the exclusion of the Niger Delta region from the recent award of oil lifting contracts, adding that the region should be allowed to participate in the oil and gas sector in the interest of equity and fair play.
The IYC president, in an interview session with journalists in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, noted that with delays in the Niger Delta peace process, chances of meeting the projected oil productions were slim.