⚖️ Mohammed Abacha Takes Malabu Oil and Gas Ownership Battle to Supreme Court.

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2 days ago
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Introduction: A Battle Over Nigeria’s Most Controversial Oil Block

The legal drama surrounding Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245 Nigeria’s most controversial and valuable oil asset — has taken a new twist. Mohammed Abacha, son of the late military dictator General Sani Abacha, is now heading to the Supreme Court to assert ownership rights over Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, the original holder of the license.

This development marks yet another chapter in a decades-long saga involving multinational oil giants, former government officials, billion-dollar deals, and international corruption probes.

At stake? Control over an oil block reportedly holding 9 billion barrels of crude — and the credibility of Nigeria’s legal and regulatory systems.

Background: What Is Malabu Oil and Gas and OPL 245?

In 1998, under the Abacha regime, OPL 245 was awarded to Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, a company reportedly linked to members of the Abacha family and their associates.

By 2011, the Nigerian government under President Goodluck Jonathan facilitated a controversial $1.1 billion deal that saw OPL 245 transferred to Shell and Eni, two of the world’s biggest oil companies.

The deal quickly became the subject of:

Corruption investigations in Italy, the UK, and the US
Allegations of bribes paid to Nigerian officials
Questions over beneficial ownership of Malabu Oil and Gas

While Shell and Eni were later acquitted in Italy, the ownership dispute remains unresolved within Nigeria.

Mohammed Abacha’s Claim: “I Am Malabu’s True Owner”

Mohammed Abacha insists that he is the rightful owner of Malabu Oil and Gas, and therefore has a legitimate stake in OPL 245.

His legal argument:

He was one of the original shareholders of Malabu
His name was allegedly removed from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registry without consent
He was excluded from the 2011 OPL 245 deal
The entire transaction lacked legal transparency and proper authorization from Malabu's legitimate stakeholders

In 2022, he initiated legal proceedings at the Federal High Court to nullify the sale and reassert his ownership.

Court of Appeal Ruling: A Setback for Abacha

On May 23, 2025, the Court of Appeal dismissed Abacha’s case, siding with Agip Oil Company (a subsidiary of Eni), which challenged the suit on procedural and jurisdictional grounds.

The appellate court ruled that:

The trial court failed to address key legal questions, including abuse of court process
The case may have been filed outside the statute of limitations
Fair hearing concerns were not adequately considered

In response, Abacha’s legal team filed a motion for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court the final legal avenue available.

Why This Case Matters

This isn’t just a family inheritance dispute. It’s a litmus test for:

Property Rights in Nigeria If Abacha was removed from the company’s records unlawfully, it raises questions about the reliability of corporate filings and regulatory oversight.
Transparency in Oil Licensing The Malabu saga remains a dark cloud over Nigeria’s extractive sector. A final verdict could determine whether future oil deals are treated with integrity or impunity.
Judicial Independence With billions of dollars at stake and powerful interests involved, how Nigeria’s Supreme Court handles this appeal will either strengthen or weaken public trust in the judiciary.

The Billion-Dollar Question: Who Owns OPL 245?

Entity	Claim to OPL 245	Legal Position
Mohammed Abacha	Claims he is original shareholder in Malabu	Pursuing Supreme Court appeal
Malabu Oil & Gas	Originally awarded license in 1998	Ownership disputed
Shell & Eni	Acquired OPL 245 in 2011 for $1.1 billion	Legally holds the license (pending any reversal)
Nigerian Government	Facilitated 2011 deal, claims due process	Under political pressure for transparency

OPL 245 is believed to hold enough reserves to produce 200,000 barrels/day for over 10 years, making it one of the most lucrative offshore oil blocks in the Gulf of Guinea.

Historical Context: The Shadow of Sani Abacha

This case cannot be separated from the legacy of General Sani Abacha, Nigeria’s former military head of state (1993–1998). His regime was notorious for:

Looting over $5 billion in public funds (much of it recovered from Swiss banks)
Secret ownership of key oil and gas assets
Building an inner circle that blurred the lines between personal wealth and state assets

For many Nigerians, the Malabu case is a continuation of that legacy and a chance to set historical wrongs right.

What’s Next: The Road to the Supreme Court

Abacha’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Reuben Atabo, is now asking Nigeria’s apex court to:

Grant leave to appeal the judgment of the Court of Appeal
Allow for new legal arguments to be introduced
Recognize violations of his constitutional right to property and fair hearing

The Supreme Court is expected to decide in the coming months whether the case has merit and will be heard.

If accepted, it could reopen one of the biggest unresolved legal battles in Nigeria’s oil history.

Final Thoughts: A Test of Sovereignty, Equity, and Justice

As the Supreme Court weighs this monumental case, Nigeria stands at a crossroads.

Will justice be measured by legal precedent or political expediency? Will powerful actors be held to account, or will the nation continue to paper over its extractive sector’s darkest chapters?

Whatever the verdict, the people of Nigeria deserve clarity, transparency, and closure not just on OPL 245, but on every natural resource held in public trust.

🖊️ By WorldWire News – Oil, Justice & Governance Desk

📣 Do you believe Mohammed Abacha should reclaim ownership of Malabu Oil and Gas? What lessons should Nigeria learn from this case? Share your views in the comments or email: info@worldwirenews.xyz.