(Ecofin Agency) - The lower house of parliament has called on Nigeria’s former President, Goodluck Jonathan (photo), to come forward and testify in an inquiry into the OPL 245 deal involving Shell and Eni. “It is imperative that evidence should be taken from former president Goodluck Jonathan,” a statement from the National Assembly committee investigating the case reads.

According to the statement, the ex-president’s name appeared in investigations carried out by Milan's public prosecutor, adding that it was Jonathan’s ministers that brokered the oilfield deal. The committee, which was set up in April this year, said it would write to the former president to seek for response and submissions, as investigation into the saga is drawing to a close. Meanwhile, a spokesman for Jonathan, said the former president was yet to receive any invitation.

OPL 245, which is considered to be the largest oil block in Africa with over 9 billion barrels of crude, became the subject of investigation in at least five countries in 2011, after Shell and Italian oil major, Eni, paid about $1.1billion into the government account in London to take control of the oil block.

Eni’s board chairwoman, Emma Marcegaglia, at an annual shareholder meeting in April 2017, said the company had only dealt with the Nigerian government. Shell the same month issued a statement claiming to have known that some of the payments made would go to Malabu Oil and Gas, where former oil minister Dan Etete holds a large stake.

“The Jonathan administration agreed this corrupt deal with major oil companies that deprived the Nigerian people of at least $1.1billion. That’s more than Nigeria’s health budget for 2016. The Nigerian people deserve answers from Goodluck Jonathan and for those responsible for this scandal to be held to account, whether they are inside or outside Nigeria, from Government to boardrooms,” Barnaby Pace, Campaigner for Global Witness, said on the Shell website.

Anita Fatunji