MEND tells reps to compel Jonathan to appear over Malabu deal

The movement for the emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) says the house of representatives should invite former President Goodluck Jonathan to appear before it and explain his role in the Malabu oil deal.

In a statement, Jomo Gbomo, spokesperson of MEND, said if Jonathan refused to honour the invitation, he should be compelled to appear before the legislators.

Gbomo said Jonathan’s role in the deal has “tainted the image of the country both locally and internationally”.

He said that there are grounds to suspect that the former president may have compromised his office in the said deal.

“We are, therefore, in full support of moves by the house of representatives to summon the former President to appear before the house to give answers to the myriad of questions concerning his role in OPL 245. Where he refuses to honour the invitation, we urge the House to invoke its inherent powers to compel his appearance,” the statement read.

“Former President Goodluck Jonathan is reported to have received the whooping sum of $200m as kickback from the controversial OPL 245 Malabu oil deal.

“We are compelled by natural justice, equity and good conscience to lend our voice against the most ignoble and despicable role played by the former President in the messy affair which has tainted the image of Nigeria both locally and internationally.

“Like millions of Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora, who have keenly followed the OPL 245 saga, we have reasonable grounds to suspect that former President Jonathan may have indeed compromised his high office with regard to the matter, more especially, given the fact that key officials of his administration, including the then attorney-general of the federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, have been indicted and charged before the federal high court in Abuja.”

He also said that there was no reason for the Shell to relocate from Niger Delta.

“We use this opportunity to warn that we shall reconsider the unilateral ceasefire of May 30, 2014 if SPDC relocates back to Lagos,” it read.