Judiciary
Nigeria Ends Two-Decade OPL 245 Legal Battle with Eni, Agip
Nigeria’s Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, says the resolution of the long-running dispute over oil block OPL 245 will strengthen the country’s economy and improve its fiscal position.
Fagbemi spoke in Abuja after the signing of a legal agreement that ended the dispute between the federal government and energy companies Eni and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited.
He described the agreement as a major milestone for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector after more than two decades of legal battles and international arbitration over the lucrative offshore oil block.
According to the Attorney-General, the settlement will remove legal and fiscal uncertainties that previously hindered the development of the asset and pave the way for large-scale investments and job creation.
Fagbemi credited Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the leadership and political will required to bring the protracted dispute to an end, noting that the president had earlier directed that the matter be resolved amicably in the interest of Nigerians.
He added that the agreement, which will culminate in a Consent Arbitral Award, is expected to restore investor confidence and strengthen Nigeria’s credibility in international business and arbitration circles.
The Attorney-General said the development also signals Nigeria’s commitment to transparency, the rule of law, and fairness in honouring contractual obligations while positioning the country as an attractive destination for global investment.
A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has adjourned the hearing of the bail application of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to March 31, 2026, following his arraignment on alleged corruption-related charges.
El-Rufai was on Tuesday brought before the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and arraigned before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa.
During the proceedings, the former governor was docked on one count out of a 10-count charge filed by the anti-graft agency. The charge, according to his counsel, Ubong Akpan, relates to alleged deposits into a domiciliary account and the monetisation of earnings.
El-Rufai was arraigned alongside a co-defendant, Joel Adoga.
Despite pending applications earlier filed before the court, Justice Aikawa proceeded with the arraignment and subsequently adjourned the matter to March 31 to consider all outstanding applications, including the bail request.
No bail application was moved or granted during Tuesday’s session.
Speaking to journalists after the court sitting, Akpan maintained that there was nothing unusual about the proceedings, adding that the defence team was yet to be served with processes relating to other potential charges.
The case is expected to resume on the adjourned date for hearing of the bail application and other pending matters.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was on Tuesday arraigned before the Federal High Court in Kaduna amid heavy security presence over alleged corruption-related offences.
The former governor arrived at the court premises around 9:00 a.m. in a Hilux vehicle but remained inside for over 30 minutes before being escorted into the courtroom at approximately 9:34 a.m.
Dressed in a light green babanriga and matching cap, El-Rufai was flanked by heavily armed operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), who maintained a tight security cordon as he was led inside.
Despite the high-profile nature of the case, journalists were denied access to the courtroom. Reporters who arrived as early as 7:00 a.m. were barred entry by DSS operatives, raising concerns about transparency in the proceedings.
Security was significantly heightened around the court परिसर, located within the old Nigerian Defence Academy area, with personnel drawn from the DSS, Nigeria Police Force, Mobile Police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps deployed from the early hours.
In a statement, ICPC spokesperson John Odey confirmed that El-Rufai is being arraigned alongside one Joel Adoga in suit number FHC/KD/73/2026.
“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission is set to arraign the former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, and one Joel Adoga… The charges range from conversion of and possession of public property to money laundering,” the statement read.
The commission also disclosed that a separate case has been filed against El-Rufai and another individual, Amadu Sule, before a Kaduna State High Court. The charges in that case include abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage.
According to the ICPC, both cases were filed on March 18, 2026, while a date for the state court arraignment is yet to be fixed.
The arraignment follows mounting pressure from political groups and civil society organisations, including the African Democratic Congress, which had earlier criticised El-Rufai’s prolonged detention without formal charges as unconstitutional.
El-Rufai was initially arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, granted bail two days later, and subsequently re-arrested by the ICPC, where he remained in custody until Tuesday’s court appearance.
His continued detention had also drawn criticism from rights groups and family members, who alleged violations of his fundamental human rights.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nwabuoku, to a cumulative 72 years imprisonment for money laundering involving N868.4 million.
Delivering judgment on Monday, the presiding judge, James Omotosho, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) proved the charges against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.
Nwabuoku was arraigned on a nine-count amended charge bordering on money laundering and fraud. He had earlier been granted bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum.
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024, the EFCC accused him of conspiring with several companies, including Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited, to convert funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The offences, the commission said, contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), which prescribes penalties for such crimes.
The anti-graft agency further stated that Nwabuoku committed the offences while serving as Director of Finance and Accounts at the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.
His no-case submission was dismissed by the court in November 2025, paving the way for the final judgment.
Nwabuoku was appointed Acting Accountant-General on May 20, 2022, by former President Muhammadu Buhari, following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over an alleged N80 billion fraud.
He was, however, removed from office in July 2022, barely weeks after his appointment, amid reports of an ongoing EFCC investigation.