My Trial A Witch Hunt, John Abebe Tells Court

A businessman and former President Obasanjo’s brother-in-law, John Abebe on Tuesday told an Ikeja Special Offences Court that his trial over allegation of forging some contract documents was a witch-hunt.

Abebe, brother to late Mrs. Stella Obasanjo, pleaded with the trial judge, Justice Mojisola Dada for justice to be done in the case.

Abebe claimed that a Norwegian oil and gas company incorporated in Nigeria, Statoil Nigeria Limited, made a criminal complaint of forgery against him after he had sued the company at the Federal High Court.

Abebe in the suit was claiming a net profit interest (NPI) of 1.5 per cent in Statoil’s oil and gas assets in Nigeria.

Statoil Nigeria Limited had on June 22, 2010, accused the brother of former first lady Mrs. Stella Obasanjo of forgery.

The company alleges that the defendant had forged parts of a parts of a Net Profit Interest Agreement (NPIA) dated Nov. 30, 1995, which was drafted by British Petroleum (BP).

While being led in evidence by the defence counsel Mr. Edoka Onyeke during resumed proceedings, Abebe told the court that when he filed the suit at the Federal High Court against Statoil, he was forewarned of a backlash from the company.

He said: “My lord, when I started this action in 2009, I mentioned to BP that I was going to take this action, BP told me that Statoil will do anything to destroy me.

“I was told that if you sue a multinational in any court of law, they will do anything to frame you, destroy you and they will play dirty.

“All I was asking for my lord was justice. If I could bring two companies to our country Nigeria to work with me and agreeing to the least compensation of 1.5 per cent, why will a Goliath-like them want to destroy a David?

“What I want the court to do for me is to see the injustice being done. The Supreme Court (in the judgment in his suit against Statoil) has pronounced that I went to the wrong court 12-years ago and some of the judges said the suit is statute-barred.

“If I’m found guilty of what I did not do, it will be very very unfair. I plead the court to give me justice”.

While being cross-examined by the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. A.O Mohammed, Abebe revealed that he was warned about the possible backlash by Mr. Jerry Matthews, the former head of BP Nigeria.

“Matthews was actually warning me as a friend which we had become. My lord, even after BP left the alliance with Statoil, BP has continued to do business with me, John Abebe.

“He said that all the agreements Statoil had with me, BP will enforce it. This information was given orally unfortunately he can’t come to court to give evidence, Jerry Matthews died last year,” he said.

When queried by the EFCC counsel why he did not invite the former employees of BP who were present during the drafting of the NPIA agreement which Statoil is claiming is forged, Abebe said he was not obliged to prove the forgery allegations.

“Even though I’m not a lawyer, I was told that if you are taken to court for forgery, the onus is on the prosecution to prove the allegations,” he said.

Justice Dada has adjourned the case until April 23 for the continuation of cross-examination.

Abebe was arraigned on July 26, 2018, on a four-count charge of forgery, fabricating evidence, using fabricated evidence and attempt to pervert the course of justice proffered against him by the EFCC.