Ex-President Jonathan Says Buhari Targeted His Officials After Power Transition

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has accused the administration of his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari, of launching a political witch-hunt against key members of his government following the 2015 transition of power.

Jonathan made the claim during the public presentation of “OPL 245: Inside Story of the $1.3bn Nigerian Oil Block”, a memoir authored by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke. The event, held in Abuja on Thursday, drew top political figures from across Nigeria’s political divide.

Represented by former Senate President Pius Anyim, Jonathan expressed concern over what he described as an orchestrated campaign of persecution, singling out Adoke as one of the worst-hit.

“Shortly after I left office in 2015, several key officials in my administration were subjected to relentless harassment. Adoke, who served as AGF, was pursued across the world,” Jonathan stated. “But today, he is here, standing strong, and telling his side of the story.”

The former president described the memoir as a bold step toward setting the record straight and a significant contribution to the ongoing discourse on justice, fairness, and governance in Nigeria.

The OPL-245 oil block deal commonly referred to as the Malabu scandal involved a controversial $1.3 billion transaction between Shell, Eni, and Malabu Oil & Gas in 2011.

While the Buhari administration accused Adoke of wrongdoing in his role overseeing the deal, he was eventually cleared of all charges both in Nigeria and internationally.

The launch of Adoke’s memoir turned into a rare moment of political unity, drawing representatives from the APC, PDP, NNPP, and other blocs.

As Nigeria looks ahead to future transitions, the voices at the event echoed a unified message: documentation, dialogue, and justice must remain at the heart of nation-building.