…says “life is a litigation with no final adjournment”
Vice President Kashim Shettima has issued a strong call for transparency, accountability, and personal courage among Nigeria’s public officials, urging them to document their service to the nation as a way of preserving national memory and confronting the judgment of history.
Speaking at the public presentation of a new memoir authored by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), titled “OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block”, Vice President Shettima underscored the importance of storytelling in national life, describing public service as a legacy that must be scrutinized, remembered, and recorded.
According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said “each of us who has had the privilege of serving this country owes the people an account of our stewardship. Our stories are not ours alone. They belong to the nation. They belong to history”.
The memoir, which details Adoke’s controversial involvement in the Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245 deal—often referred to as the Malabu oil scandal—served as a backdrop for broader reflections on the place of conscience, justice, and legacy in public life.
Calling for an end to the entrenched culture of silence in governance, Shettima lamented the tendency to bury history beneath personal fears and political expediencies.
“There is silence to preserve relationships. There is silence to protect secrets too delicate to disclose. And there is silence for memories we would rather forget. But as a generation of leaders, we must summon the courage to document our journeys”, he observed.
He described the author’s narrative as an act of bravery, noting that Adoke’s characterization of himself as “bloodied but unbowed” will resonate with many who have served in government and experienced the high-stakes drama of public office.
“There is no doubt that those named in this book will tell their own side of the story. That, indeed, is how history finds its balance. Every witness must speak. Every accused person must speak. Every participant must speak. Life itself is a litigation with no end. There is no final adjournment in the pursuit of justice. There is no permanent discharge in the reckoning of history”, Shettima added.
In his philosophical tone, the Vice President declared that even if official records are manipulated or media attention fades, “the conscience of a nation never adjourns. In that eternal courtroom, we are all on trial—not only for what we did, but for what we dared to remember, reveal, and pass on.”
The event, held in Abuja, was graced by a diverse audience of current and former top government functionaries, legal minds, traditional rulers, and political heavyweights.
In his remarks as Chairman of the occasion, former President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, praised Adoke’s resilience in the face of intense pressure and what he termed “deliberate persecution.”
Jonathan, who appointed Adoke during his tenure, described the book launch as a symbolic triumph over adversity and a clarion call for public officials to anchor their actions in justice and fairness.
“This is a celebration of courage, of justice, and of commitment to service. It is also a cautionary tale about the cost of recklessness and abuse of power”, he said through his representative.
Also speaking at the event, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State applauded Adoke for committing to the discipline of public documentation.
He noted that while the book focuses on the highly controversial OPL 245 transaction, its value lies beyond the specific incident.
“This book contextualizes a national episode, but also opens a broader conversation on institutional reforms and the need for better governance frameworks in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry”, Makinde said.
Makinde stressed that such documentation is vital for future reforms and national progress, adding that “reinvigorating the culture of stewardship and transparency in public service is an essential building block for sustainable national development.”
In his own address, the author, Mohammed Bello Adoke, explained that his decision to write the book was rooted in the need to set the record straight, not to target individuals or seek revenge.
“This book is not about vendetta. It is about clarity. It is about history. And above all, it is about truth”, Adoke said.
The former Attorney-General, who endured years of prosecution, international media scrutiny, and travel restrictions over his alleged role in the OPL 245 transaction, said he felt morally obligated to respond through honest recollection and facts.
“The Malabu case caused irreparable harm to my reputation, my family, and my businesses. But I have chosen to forgive. I believe in the Nigerian project and remain fully committed to its future”, he stated.
Adoke called for sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s justice system and public service culture, saying his ordeal should not become a precedent for future generations.
“What happened to me must not be allowed to happen to another. We need a system that respects due process and distinguishes between public accountability and political witch-hunting”, he said.
The book reviewer, Dr. Reuben Abati, who served as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Jonathan, described OPL 245 as a deeply personal and therapeutic narrative.
Abati, now a columnist with ThisDay and a television host with Arise News, said Adoke’s memoir is a well-structured defense against a decade of what the former AGF called “clinical persecution.”
“This is a detailed, compelling, and necessary account. It deals with the facts, counters the lies, and contributes to public understanding of one of the most controversial legal-political sagas in Nigeria’s recent history”, Abati said.
Abati emphasized the importance of the book in the public discourse, noting that it not only helps clear the author’s name but also adds critical insight into the functioning and dysfunctions of Nigeria’s legal and governance systems.
Dignitaries present at the launch included former Senate President Bukola Saraki; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji; Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Joel Salifu; and several former governors including Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Adamu Muazu (Bauchi), and Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna).
The Emir of Lafia, Hon. Justice Sidi Bage Mohammed (rtd), was also in attendance, lending a royal gravitas to the high-profile event that blended intellectual, legal, and political communities in a rare moment of reflection.
