The House of Representatives on Wednesday said that former President Goodluck Jonathan must appear before it to give evidence on his role in the controversial $1 billion Malabu Oil deal. The Malabu oil deal which investigation has spread across no fewer than four countries including France and Italy has become the poster child for everything messy about Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

A statement issued by the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee probing the alleged corruption, malpractices and breach of process in the award of OPL 245, Hon. Razak Atunwa, said that the House would write the former President to come and defend himself on the allegations.

The statement reads: “The Ad-hoc Committee on OPL 245 met to consider the progress of the Committee’s work and the next steps to be taken.

“The Committee noted that it had conducted extensive investigation into the OPL 245 saga and that it is drawing to a close.

“However, the Committee is of the view that in the interest of thoroughness, natural justice and fair play, it imperative that evidence should be taken from former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In arriving at this decision, the Committee took account of the following facts:

“Mr. Jonathan was the President at the material time the ministers brokered the deal that led to the allegation of $1bn funds diversion.

Mr. Jonathan’s name features in the proceedings initiated by the Public Prosecutor of Milan in Italy.

“A UK court judgment in relation to an application to return part of the money being restrained, castigated the Jonathan administration as not having acted in the best interest of Nigeria in relation to the ‘deal’;

“The Attorney-General of the Federation at the material time, Mohammed Bello Adoke, has recently instituted proceedings in court wherein he pleaded that all his actions were as instructed by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Accordingly, pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution, the Committee has decided to request that former President Goodluck Jonathan give evidence on his role in the matter. The Secretariat will write to him asking for his response and submissions.”