By Press Release
Mr Lateef Fagbemi,(SAN) Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has criticised opposition to the Federal Government’s resolution of disputes surrounding the OPL 245 oil block, describing such positions as driven by selfish rather than patriotic interests.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the AGF reacted to comments attributed to the media office of former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, which he said misrepresented the significance of the government’s intervention in the long-running dispute.
Fagbemi described the resolution as a landmark achievement by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that it effectively ends nearly three decades of legal and commercial uncertainty surrounding the oil block.
He recalled that OPL 245, originally awarded to Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd in 1998, became the subject of protracted disputes following its revocation in 2001 and subsequent reallocation in 2002 to Shell Nigeria Ultra-Deep Limited, now succeeded by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), alongside Nigerian Agip Exploration (NAE)/Eni entities.
According to the AGF, the disputes were addressed through a 2011 Resolution Agreement involving the Federal Government and key stakeholders, under which Malabu relinquished its claims while the block was reassigned to SNEPCo and NAE as joint license holders.
He noted that the transaction was later subjected to extensive judicial scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy, with no wrongdoing established against the companies involved.
Fagbemi further explained that following delays in converting OPL 245 into an Oil Mining Lease (OML), Eni and its Nigerian subsidiary initiated arbitration proceedings against Nigeria at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), citing breach of obligations under the Nigeria–Netherlands Bilateral Investment Treaty.
He warned that the country faced potential liabilities exceeding $2 billion before the recent resolution efforts.
The AGF emphasised that the arbitration focused strictly on treaty obligations and licensing decisions, noting that individuals currently laying claims to Malabu did not participate in the proceedings and lacked the legal basis to intervene.
Highlighting the economic importance of the asset, Fagbemi said OPL 245, located offshore, remains one of Nigeria’s most commercially viable oil blocks, with the potential to produce about 150,000 barrels per day and contribute significantly to national revenue and energy security.
He added that the resolution would unlock investment, enhance production capacity, and restore investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The AGF also referenced a recent Court of Appeal judgment, which dismissed Malabu’s challenge to the allocation of the oil block, describing the suit as statute-barred and an abuse of court process.
Fagbemi maintained that continued opposition to the resolution, despite legal and economic clarity, raises concerns about underlying motives.
“Such narratives are not driven by patriotism but by undisclosed, self-serving interests aimed at frustrating a lawful and strategic resolution,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to remain cautious of attempts to derail progress, stressing that the resolution of OPL 245 is in the best interest of the nation and its citizens.
