Eke had initially agreed to testify about the alleged movement of tens of millions of dollars in cash, reportedly smuggled out of Nigeria on a private jet in a manner reminiscent of the infamous 2014 Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor jet incident.

A key Nigerian witness expected to testify in the high-profile OPL245 corruption trial in Milan stunned the court in December 2019 when he denied his own identity, despite previously committing to provide critical evidence against oil giants ENI and Mobil.

The witness, identified as Isaac Chinonyerem Eke but known under the security alias Victor Nwafor, is a Department of State Services (DSS) officer formerly attached to the Nigerian presidency.

Eke had initially agreed to testify about the alleged movement of tens of millions of dollars in cash, reportedly smuggled out of Nigeria on a private jet in a manner reminiscent of the infamous 2014 Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor jet incident.

The jet incident refers to a controversial episode in 2014 involving a private jet owned by Pastor Oritsejafor, then president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

The jet was seized in South Africa after it was found to be carrying $9.3 million in cash, allegedly intended for an arms purchase. The aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 600 with U.S. registration number N808HG, was intercepted at Lanseria International Airport in Johannesburg on September 5, 2014.

Pastor Oritsejafor acknowledged ownership of the jet but stated that it had been leased to Green Coast Produce Company Limited since August 2, 2014.

However, according to Eke, the cash transfer was carried out by officials of ENI, an Italian energy company operating primarily in petroleum, natural gas, and petrochemicals, and allegedly sanctioned by then-President Goodluck Jonathan and his ministers as part of the controversial OPL245 oil block deal.

Eke had, on several occasions, admitted involvement in monitoring the movement of these funds and had volunteered to give sworn testimony in the Milan trial.

Sources familiar with the case told SaharaReporters that Eke received clearance for his travel to Italy from then-National Security Adviser, retired General Babagana Monguno.

The letter written by Eke, seeking clearance, which was obtained by SaharaReporters, read, “I was asked by Mr. Vincenzo Armanna to come and testify at the trial that is taking place in Milan about the relationships between me and Mr. Vincenzo Armanna during the period from 2009 to 2016.

“I was only able to respond to this request recently.

“I was introduced to Mr. Armanna by a common American friend during a dinner with colleagues in late 2009, the name that was used to introduce me was Victor Nawfor. Mr. Armanna was introduced to me as the main contact person for AGIP in Nigeria.

“I confirm that I am ready to testify by going to Milan in person, but I would like to point out that for logistical reasons I need about 30 days to plan and organize my visit. without prejudice, there will be no press coverage and identity must be protected.”

However, before his departure, Eke reportedly held secret meetings with key allies of Jonathan, including businessman Tunde Ayeni and billionaire Gregory Uanseru—both closely linked to the former president and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Unfortunately, news of his planned testimony leaked to the defendants before he could travel to Milan to appear in person, just like Idris Akinbajo of Premium Times also testified,” a source said.

“After securing clearance for his trip from then-National Security Adviser, retired General Babagana Monguno, he was reported to have held secret meetings with Tunde Ayeni, a close associate and business proxy of former President Jonathan, as well as billionaire Gregory Uanseru, another key ally of Jonathan and senior figures in the PDP.”

Ayeni, a prominent Nigerian businessman and lawyer, has been linked in several investigative reports to controversial oil sector dealings during the tenure of former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Uanseru is a prominent Nigerian businessman and oil magnate, best known as the President and CEO of GCA Energy Limited, a major player in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

In a dramatic turn during the Milan proceedings, Eke, who had travelled from Nigeria and spent several nights in Italy ahead of his scheduled testimony, denied being the person he was presented as.

His disavowal shocked the court and raised serious questions about witness tampering. Many in the courtroom believed that the witness had been compromised, though the precise details of how this occurred remain unclear.

The incident has further exposed the alleged influence and reach of political and business figures implicated in the OPL245 scandal, deepening concerns about efforts to obstruct justice in the long-running case.

Controversial OPL 245 (Malabu Oil) Scandal

The OPL 245 corruption trial—often called the Malabu oil scandal—is one of the most significant and complex corruption cases in Nigeria’s history, involving billions of dollars, international oil giants, and high-ranking officials.

OPL 245 refers to Oil Prospecting License 245, a deep-water offshore oil block in Nigeria believed to hold around 9 billion barrels of crude oil—about a quarter of the country’s proven reserves.

In 1998, Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245 was awarded to Malabu Oil & Gas, a company secretly controlled by then Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete.

In 2011, Shell and Eni paid $1.3 billion to acquire rights to the oil block through a deal facilitated by the Nigerian government. Of that sum, $1.1 billion was transferred to Malabu, allegedly serving as kickbacks to politicians and middlemen.

The deal sparked criminal investigations in Italy, the United Kingdom, Nigeria, and the United States, with authorities alleging large-scale bribery and money laundering. In 2018, a landmark trial opened in Milan, with Shell, Eni, and 13 individuals—including senior company executives—facing charges.

In March 2021, the Milan court acquitted all defendants, citing insufficient evidence to secure convictions. Appeals against the ruling were eventually abandoned, and by 2023, the Nigerian government withdrew its remaining civil claims in Italy.

A new twist emerged in 2024, when two Italian prosecutors were themselves convicted for concealing exculpatory evidence during the trial, casting serious doubt on the integrity of the entire prosecution.

While Nigeria received only a $210 million signature bonus from the deal, the bulk of the funds allegedly ended up in private hands. Domestically, former Attorney General Mohammed Adoke and several others were charged over their roles in the transaction. However, in March 2024, a Nigerian court upheld a no-case submission and dismissed the charges against them.