$4m fraud: Briton insists Obasanjo’s in-law forged document

Cross, who was the in-house lawyer and Assistant General Manager Dispute Resolution Projects for BP Exploration in London, maintained that parts of a Net Profit Interest Agreement were forged. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had arraigned Abebe for alleged forgery. The EFCC, in the charges, claimed that Abebe “knowingly forged” a November 30, 1995 letter written by BP Exploration Nigeria Limited to Inducon (Nigeria) Ltd. The anti-graft agency claimed that the businessman “illegally inserted” into page 2 of the said letter “the following statement: “Also note that the ‘Buy-Out Option’ only applies to the pre-production stage of the NPIA. The $4m buy-out is thus irrelevant from the production of oil in any of our fields.” During cross-examination on Wednesday by a member of Abebe’s defence team, Edoka Onyeke, Cross said she was in court to represent the position of BP Exploration, London, adding that the document referred to in court as Annexure II was forged. She said, “I’m aware that the defendant was a Director of BP; I’m not aware that Annexure II and Annexure III were signed in London. “It makes no sense how BP would put together that clause in Annexure II; and during the EFCC investigations into the alleged forgery, I was never requested by the anti-graft agency to obtain statements from other staff of BP.” Explaining the role played by Abebe in bringing BP Exploration to Nigeria, Cross told the court, “I’m aware that prior to 1999, BP was not allowed to conduct business in Nigeria; I’m aware the defendant provided assistance for BP Exploration to conduct business in Nigeria after they had left in 1976. “The defendant helped provide two oil mining leases for BP and their mining partners, Statoil, and I’m aware that production subsequently occurred. “The defendant was entitled to 1.5 per cent of the profits from production during the time the NPIA was in force.” Cross rejected the suggestion that BP and Statoil forged Annexure II to avoid the financial obligations placed on them by Nigerian courts in suits filed by Abebe against the companies. Justice Mojisola Dada adjourned the case until November 19, 20, 22 and December 3 for the continuation of trial.]]>