InvestorsHub Logo
Followers 11
Posts 1537
Boards Moderated 0
Alias Born 07/12/2005

Re: None

Wednesday, 10/04/2006 7:51:00 AM

Wednesday, October 04, 2006 7:51:00 AM

Post# of 361593
Offor mentioned at the bottom.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/north/nt804102006.html
Etete accuses Atiku, Fasawe of massive corruption
By Jide Ajani, Political Editor
Posted to the Web: Wednesday, October 04, 2006



ABUJA—CHIEF Dan Etete, Petroleum Resources Minister in the Sani Abacha regime yesterday accused Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his business associate, Otunba Johnson Oyewole Fasawe, of forcefully taking over Oil Prospecting Lease, OPL, 245, belonging to MALABU OIL, against laid down procedures, and engaging in massive corruption.

Malabu Oil used to be owned by Chief Etete until, according to him, the Vice President, Chief Fasawe and their Italian business partners seized 50% interest in the company.
Chief Etete spoke yesterday on the African Independent Television, AIT.
But in a swift reaction the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation dismissed the charges of corruption against the Vice President and threatened to go to court.
The Etete interview was broadcast twice yesterday first at 9am and again at 3pm.
Etete, alleged that Vice President Atiku and one Gabriel Volpi, identified as the Managing Director of Intels Services, Port Harcourt, and two other Italians first demanded 60% interest in the company otherwise the licence would be revoked.
He said the “first attempt crystalised when the trio of Volpi, Beruschi and Berger came to France, with the power of attorney to act on behalf of the Vice President to hold talks with me as a consultant for MALABU OIL.

“At that meeting, they told me that their outfit, based on instructions and acting on behalf of the Vice President, would want 60% of OPL 245.
“They also made it clear to me that that was the only way we could do business.
“But as consultant to MALABU OIL, and confronted with this vicious approach to business, MALABU OIL, decided to go for peace and we agreed to the 50% proposal.

“However, at some other point in time, we were confronted with some form of money transfer.

“At that time, MALABU OIL had the opportunity of paying in batches or on a pro rata basis and the company paid Two million and forty thousand Dollars.
“Because of the introduction of SHELL into the entire business, SHELL was expected to pay a sum of $17, 960,000.

“Unfortunately, and because of the way SHELL operates in so many countries of the world, the company paid that amount to the Directorate of Petroleum Resources, DPR, but for whatever reasons, the money was never paid into the bank.
“For a period of three months, the money was kept and was not paid into the bank. And after the three month period, the money was not cashable.It could not be cashed. “Now, what sort of company would pay such an amount of money and it can not be cashed.

“Even as we talk now, the matter is in court but SHELL has refused to pay the sum of $500 million which it had been ordered to pay.
“As for the Vice President, there was a time when a meeting was scheduled for the Vice President and myself somewhere in the south of France.
“We held the meeting on a yacht belonging to the former Yugoslav leader, Tito.
“Volpi, Atiku’s business partner and associate gave a very useful speech as a businessman.

“He then left Vice President |Abubakar and myself and I asked him pointedly whether his boss (President Obasanjo) was involved in all the deals we’re talking about and he said 'of course that how do I think all these would have happened if his boss was not involved.

“But it was a lie", Etete said, adding “for instance, Intels, where he said Vice President Abubakar has 20% stake, was alleged to have sold a waterfront property to some foreigners for $2million.
“There was another instance where some huge sums of monies were transferred to the Vice President. The documents are here and those who sent the documents to me, I’ve never met them before, they just sent it to me.

“The money was sent to Atiku and another associate, Emeka Offor and it involved about $180 million.”

Etete, who made it clear that he was ready for whatever was coming, however, charged that both Atiku and his associates, as well as SHELL should not do anything that would injure his person both socially and physically as he was ready to take on all comers.