The Federal Government has refused to explain the role played by President Goodluck Jonathan and other government officials in a scandal allegedly involving government officials, Shell, ENI subsidiaries in Nigeria, a Nigerian oil firm and a former petroleum minister. However, on Thursday, the civil society and opposition parties criticized government's silence, while also calling for a probe.

A report by the United States-based anti-corruption NGO, Global Witness, had said that Nigerian subsidiaries of both Shell and ENI agreed to pay $1.092bn to the Federal Government for oil block OPL 245.

The report entitled, "Shell's obscure payments kill its case for weak US and EU transparency laws", further alleged that the Federal Government then paid the entire N155bn to Malabu Oil and Gas, a company owned by Mr. Dan Etete, a former oil minister under the late General Sani Abacha.

An online news medium, PREMIUM TIMES, in a follow up on its earlier version of a report on Thursday, had stated that money was paid on the order of Jonathan.

It also alleged that the money was a slush fund, "with a huge chunk of it ending in bank accounts of cronies and business associates of government officials."

Global Witness said documents in a New York court, stated that "...it does appear that the FGN (Federal Government of Nigeria) was indeed the proverbial "straw man" holding $1.1bn for ultimate payment to Malabu."

Experts describe the process as round-tripping, adding that it is a tool widely used by corrupt government officials and businessmen for money laundering and tax evasion.

Efforts to get the President's spokesman, Dr. Ruben Abati's reaction to the money laundering allegation on Thursday were not successful, despite the sensitive nature of the allegation.

When called, Abati did not pick his mobile phone neither did he respond to an SMS send to him, asking for the Presidency's reaction on the matter.

The report alleged that the President had instructed the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN) to pay the money to Malabu.

When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister of State for Finance, Mallam M. Nakoji, said he could not comment on the N155bn money laundering controversy since he was not familiar with the issue.

He said the minister could not be reached because he (Ngama) was in Port-Harcourt attending a meeting.

He, however, promised to get the response of the minister on Friday. Repeated calls put across to the minister was not picked. Similarly, a text message sent to him at 4:03pm was not replied.

Also, efforts to get a reaction from the AGF were not successful as at the time of filing this report.

Our correspondent could not see the Minister when he called at his office in the Ministry of Justice.

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/1610-jonathan-silent-on-role-in-n155bn-oil-scandal

This is the fallout of how Nigerians fail to become politically sophisticated . When GEJ employs Adoke Bello as AGF , i.e a crook and shake-down conman like Aondoakaa, what does that tell us if not that GEJ is in bed with corruption?

Even despite Adoke Bello's notoriety for overt corrupt practices, just like Aondoakaa,in the last republic, GEJ retained him in the same position after his 2011 win. In fact I said it here that the appointment of the AGF is the golden test for GEJ.

When Adoke Bello returned, I knew this is a President who has settled on looting the nation with others. All these revelations therefore does not surprise me at all. I make bold to say here that GEJ is heavily involved with the fuel subsidy scam same as those he outrightly refuse to sack (Allison-Madueke, Adoke Bello et al) that commonsense and damning investigative journalism implicate heavily in oil and gas sector corruption.