Malabu Oil & Gas Limited has demanded corrections and an apology from The Africa Report over its OPL 245 coverage, disputing references to Chief Dan Etete and ongoing litigation claims
Malabu Oil & Gas Limited has issued a strong rebuttal to a recent report by The Africa Report, accusing the publication of factual inaccuracies and misrepresentation in its coverage of the long-running dispute surrounding Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245.
In a letter dated after the publication of the magazine’s May 26, 2026 article titled “Malabu Oil court action clouds Tinubu’s ‘resolved’ OPL 245 deal”, the company demanded immediate corrections and an unreserved apology, warning that legal action could follow if its concerns are not addressed within seven days.
The letter, signed by Joseph Amaran on behalf of Malabu Oil & Gas Limited and addressed to editors Nicholas Norbrook and Patrick Smith of Jeune Afrique Media Group, challenged what it described as misleading references to former Petroleum Minister Chief Dan Etete.
According to the company, Etete has no current role in Malabu’s management, ownership structure or legal representation.
“Chief Dan Etete is not a member of the current management, ownership structure, or legal representation of Malabu Oil & Gas Limited,” the letter stated, arguing that the use of his photograph and name alongside reports of ongoing litigation created a false impression of his involvement in the company’s affairs.
The dispute centres on OPL 245, one of Nigeria’s most controversial oil assets. The offshore block, located in the Niger Delta, has been at the heart of legal and political battles for nearly three decades.
Originally awarded to Malabu Oil & Gas Limited in 1998 during the administration of the late General Sani Abacha, the licence later became the subject of multiple ownership disputes, government interventions, international investigations and corruption allegations.
The controversy reached global prominence following a 2011 settlement involving oil majors Shell and Eni. Under the arrangement, approximately $1.3 billion was paid into a Nigerian government escrow account, with substantial sums eventually finding their way to accounts linked to Malabu. The transaction triggered investigations and court proceedings in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and Italy.
In March 2026, the administration of President Bola Tinubu announced what it described as a landmark settlement designed to finally resolve disputes surrounding OPL 245 and pave the way for development of the asset.
The agreement reportedly involved restructuring the block and allocating interests among Shell entities, Nigerian Agip Exploration and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).
However, fresh litigation emerged shortly afterwards when a group claiming to represent Malabu challenged the settlement before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking judicial review and damages reportedly running into hundreds of billions of naira.
The Africa Report’s article suggested that the court action had cast doubt on government claims that the matter had been conclusively resolved.
Malabu, however, insists that the litigation does not represent the company’s position. The company claims that individuals it described as “impostors” are responsible for the court action and are falsely presenting themselves as stakeholders.
The company urged law enforcement agencies to investigate the individuals involved and called on media organisations to verify sources carefully before publishing reports on the matter.
The latest exchange highlights the continuing complexities surrounding OPL 245, a dispute that has become synonymous with allegations of corruption, contested ownership claims and prolonged legal battles.
Questions over who legitimately represents Malabu have persisted for years, with rival factions and competing claims frequently emerging in court proceedings.
Several judicial decisions in recent years have also dismissed certain claims connected to the block, while investigations by anti-corruption authorities have continued.
For the Tinubu administration, the dispute remains a critical test of efforts to resolve legacy oil sector controversies and attract investment into Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
Whether Malabu’s demand for a correction results in a public apology, further litigation or renewed scrutiny of the OPL 245 settlement remains uncertain. What is clear is that one of Nigeria’s most contentious oil disputes continues to generate fresh controversy nearly three decades after it first began.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
