Yenagoa—The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has been commended for advising the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to discontinue all court cases related to the controversial OPL 245.
The commendation was made by a prominent Niger Delta monarch and entrepreneur, HRH Samuel Sambo via a statement made available to Mangrovepen.ng on Sunday.
Sambo who is the paramount ruler of Sambo Ama in Twon Brass Kingdom of Bayelsa State described Malami’s counsel as well thought-out and timely, urging President Buhari to consider it in the interest of the nation.
He said: “The OPL 245 imbroglio has lingered for too long and the discontinuation of all litigation as advised by Malami remains excellent to me.
“The AGM is the best person to give such advice and if in his wisdom he expediently opines that the federal government has slim chances of getting judicial victory then the President should urgently heed.
“We cannot continue to allow our most endowed oil block to lie fallow when we could start developing and exploiting it to generate huge revenue for the nation.”
Sambo added that the world is gradually shifting from fossil fuel, hence it will be unwise for Nigeria to delay in exploiting various oil blocks across the country while it still can.
“The outgoing President should take the wise counsel of his minister and allow Shell and Eni who are the current bonafide owners of the oil block to commence exploration and exploitation activities.
“The myriads disputes and court cases have gravely affected not only the federal government and the interested oil companies but also the host communities who are meant to pay royalties and mount projects through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR),” the statement read in part.
The philanthropic monarch expressed that “the discontinuation of the OPL 245 imbroglio, which started in 1998, by the Federal Government will be one of the great legacies President Buhari will bequeath when he leaves office on May 29, 2023.”
