FORMER Minister of Petroleum, Dan Etete, was yesterday quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in continuation of an investigation that had been stalled for several years.
A source told The Guardian that the former minister was granted administrative bail to provide more documents on the alleged $1.1 billion oil deal transfer that was made to Switzerland under his company, Malabu Oil and Gas.
It was reported in the media last week that the EFCC has revived investigations into the Malabu oil deal when Etete was questioned and released to report back last Monday.
When contacted on phone, EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, stated that he was not in the office and would find out later if Etete was questioned by the commission yesterday.
It would be recalled that the EFCC has been investigating the former minister over alleged transfer of $1.1 billion made to his company, Malabu Oil and Gas, for the sale of OPL 245 to Italian oil giant, Eni and Royal Dutch Shell, by Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
It has also been investigating Etete for several years on the alleged fraud case though nothing was heard about it for severalyears during the last administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. That administration is alleged to have offered a Federal Government account as conduit for the illicit transfer from oil giants Eni and Royal Dutch Shell for the sale of OPL 245.
The EFCC had remained silent on the matter though the scandal triggered a probe by the House of Representatives and led to criminal cases in Italy and Britain. Former Attorney-General, Mohammed Adoke and former Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Ngama, are believed to have offered the government’s platform to Malabu as a conduit for the illicit fund transfer.
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