Nigeria: ex-attorney general charged over suspected bribes

Nigeria’s former Attorney General, Mohammed Adoke, has been charged with multiple counts of corruption after allegedly taking bribes to facilitate a $1.3bn oil block sale. 

The charges were filed by Nigeria’s corruption watchdog, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Similar accusations have been brought against local subsidiaries of multinational oil giants Shell and Eni for illegally aiding Mr Adoke. 

The accusations relate to the sale of an offshore oilfield - known as OPL 245 - by Malabu Oil and Gas in 2011. The sale triggered an international investigation which looked into Shell, Eni and a number of former Nigerian politicians.

Mr Adoke, who served as attorney general from 2010 to 2015, was arrested in Dubai by Interpol in November of last year. He was then detained by the EFCC.

Mr Adoke, Shell and Eni all deny any wrongdoing. 

Photo credit: AP | Salvatore Di Nolfi