Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, and six co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to 42 counts of fraud and money laundering.
Adoke was arraigned on Thursday at the FCT High Court in Gwagwalada.
Other defendants in the charge are Aliyu Abubakar, Rasky Gbinigie, Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited, Shell Nigeria Ultra Deep Limited and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleges that Adoke was connected with the controversial $1.09 billion settlement agreement on Malabu Oil Block.
The former AGF had been away from the country for four years after being part of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The anti-graft agency accused the former justice minister of fraudulently allocating OPL 245.
Adoke was arrested on December 19, 2019, by the EFCC on arrival in Nigeria from Dubai.