DATELINE: London United Kingdom

18^th April 2009

To The Great and Good People of Nigeria:

INTRODUCTION:

We, The Champions For Nigeria Organisation wish to sympathize with you for all your endurance and diligence in the face of avoidable economic hardship, socio-cultural deterioration and political despondency caused as a result of the greed, selfishness, inconsideration, mismanagement, corruption and visionless leadership of our leaders.

Looters with stolen and rigged mandates live in affluence, openly insult our collective intelligence and squander our collective resources and wealth without regard to us and the consequences, while the majority of Nigerians live in poverty, starvation, fear and great inconvenience.

Champions For Nigeria believe that corruption is arguably the major problem we have in Nigeria today that is preventing Nigeria from achieving any semblance of greatness or even socio-economic growth and development. And we know those who are perpetrating this evil monster on us; we know those who are still bent on keeping the majority of Nigerians as serfs and slaves long after colonialism – the inept ruling clique.

The recent catalogue of distressing, outrageous and profound revelations of blatant and reckless corruption and bribery, plundering of the nation’s treasury by a few clique, started during Abacha’s ignominious regime and continued into Obasanjo’s “holier-than-thou” administration and now being covered up by the lame-duck Presidency of Yar ‘Adua is a testimony yet again to the fact that despite all the noise of the war against corruption, nothing has really changed. The looters are still in charge, and actually admitting new looters everyday to join their evil enclave.

Of particular interest is the allegation of massive, unbelievable, bribery and corruption against three successive governments (Abacha, Abdulsalam and Obasanjo) and other top government officials by Halliburton, a United States-based company engaged in building Africa’s first liquefied natural gas plant in Nigeria.

Awashed with undisputable facts about the Halliburton bribery scandal, this is a true litmus test for the rule of law mantra of Yar A'dua government. The fact remains that in Nigeria's political space dogs don't eat dogs. It has been proven again and again. This is behaviour that helps perpetuate corruption and bold-faced illegality in the dealings of individual and agents of government on behalf of Nigerians, without regard to the consequences of that behaviour and the effect on the image of Nigeria and Nigerians in the Diaspora. Unless you are not in the good books of the government of the day, whatever action or inaction a highly placed official or representative of government takes, there is no reprimand. Halliburton scandal is going down the annals of unsolved sticky issues in Nigeria political life and the world is watching the unfolding drama once again. It is obvious that, there is a deliberate effort by the incumbent government to cover up, but the fact that this is a scandal of International dimension is what is keeping this matter in the public domain. Hence, the setting up of a lack lustre enquiry committee to look into the matter that is as plain as the broad day light. Name and shame the culprits! That is what this scandal demands! Let the Yar A'dua Government start the rebranding programme by showing commitment to the following agenda in respect of the Scandal:

The Champions For Nigeria therefore calls for the following:

Liaise with foreign governments to determine names of bribe-takers

The Halliburton scandal is the lever for uncovering high profile corrupt practices in Nigeria and it will help to further the fight against economic and financial crimes in the country. Nigeria government must therefore liaise with the US counterpart to uncover the names of the Nigerian bribe-takers in Nigeria.

Release and publicise the names of the bribe-takers to the public.

We want the government to show transparency by naming and shaming those officials involved in this transactions and mess. When the names of the Nigerian officials, high and low, who partook in the bribe taking, are known, their names must be published immediately. This will serve as a great deterrent to future thieves and bribe-takers if they know the authorities will nit hesitate to publish and publicise their names into the public domain.

Explore known international treaties

Show cooperation with the international community in order to forestall such activities in the future. Nigeria should explore all international treaties with all the countries concerned including USA and Switzerland to ensure adequate information and evidence are available for a valid legal prosecution in Nigeria. The treaty between Nigeria and USA on Mutual Legal Assistance is one example of the treaties that must be explored and used to the advantage of Nigeria in the corruption fight.

Apply Nigerian law evenly

Allow the law to take its course and justice to prevail in line with the rule of law mantra of the government. Nobody is above the law in Nigeria. If the names of the alleged bribe-takers are known and evidence gathered, they should be arrayed before a competent court in Nigeria without preferential treatment. The successful prosecution of Nigerian bribe-takers will ensure the fight against financial corruption in Nigeria is on course.

No secrecy as case is in public interest

The Nigeria government must avoid secrecy in the legal case against any Nigerian bribe-takers because this case maintains a high public interest. Any attempt to keep secrecy in this case would be counter-productive and could lead to further abuse of public office with impunity.

No plea bargaining

The Nigeria government must avoid legal plea bargaining. Criminals must be brought to justice. If criminals are found guilty of their crimes, they must face the consequence of their actions as stipulated in the laws of Nigeria. Legal plea bargaining will allow criminals to continue their criminal intents while escaping the law and it will allow new criminals to explore more corrupt opportunities to defraud Nigeria.

Identify and confiscate assets

Repatriate the bribery funds that have already been traced to  Swiss bank account (s) and disclose the identity (ies) of those having historical interactions with the account(s). All the proceeds of crime recovered from the Nigerian bribe-takers must be accounted for including their local and known international assets. The assets and all proceeds from the crime must return to the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Promulgate laws to bar bribe-takers from public office

Strengthen the regulatory laws that guide international business interactions between Nigerian government and other entity. Criminals who steal public fund in one way or another should be stopped from taking any public office in Nigeria in the future. This should include bribe-takers who collaborate with foreign firms to dupe the country, Nigeria.

Furthermore:

We call on the Authorities and Government to review all allied contracts with a view to ensure that level playing ground and meritocratic due process prevail in the ways and manner the contracts were awarded

Clean up our image in the International community by showing more transparency in the conduct of business dealings with other nations and business entities. Let’s call a Spade a Spade...that would help reshape our brand!

"-30-"

Signed:

For and on behalf of CHAMPIONS FOR NIGERIA Organisation.

 (http://www.championsfornigeria.org )

Akintokunbo A Adejumo ( UK) +44 7939 804 121 (champions@championsfornigeria.org )

Bernard Owen Imarhiagbe ( UK)

Ephraim Adinlofu ( UK)

Ade Adewolu ( UK) 

Taghogho Agarin ( USA)

Olayiwola Ajileye ( UK) 

Odimegwu Onwumere ( Nigeria) 

Owolabi Dada ( UK) 

Dapo Williams ( UK) 

Adebayo Adejuwon ( Canada)

Kola Afolabi (France)

Robot  # 1 | 20.04.2009 08:04

Champions For Nigeria believe that corruption is arguably the major problem we have in Nigeria today that is preventing Nigeria from achieving any semblance of greatness or even socio-economic growth and development. ...Read the full article.

ocnus  # 2 | 20.04.2009 11:22

This is a reasonable demand. However, it is founded upon the fictional and misleading account of the Halliburton Case by the Attorney-General. The A-G says that there is no link to show that the bribe-takers (inter alia Abacha, Abubakar and Obasanjo) ever received the money. This is pure pettifoggery. The Halliburton monies were paid through Tesler and Marubeni to these worthies through accounts in Switzerland, The perpetrators have confessed to this under oath and, in the case of Halliburton, have been fined for the gross violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The head of Halliburton-KBR Albert Jack Stanley has confessed to making these payments and to the demands made by the Presidents for such payments. Indeed, he has offered to repeat his testimony in a Nigerian court. the A-G has been provided with this evidence in full through the US Ambassador and from the US Department of Justice. His purported mission to the US did not deal with this. As far as anyone knows he met with no one of importance in the US. The US is already upset with him by his dilatory behaviour on the Wilbros Case. They do not trust him. He says that despite the fact that the company admits paying the Nigerians; that the paying agents have testified under oath that they paid these Presidents and others; the A-G states that unless they signed a receipt for these corrupt payments there were no payments made. Even more bizarrely he says that there is a pot of $130 million in Switzerland that he will get back for Nigeria. There is a principle of law "Jus ex injuria non oritur" A right cannot arise from a wrong. The bribes paid illegally to the Nigerian officials are not the property of Nigeria. What a carry-on. How can he claim illegal payments as part of Nigeria's bounty. Has 419-ism suddenly become part of Nigerian law. He has no right to ask nor receive any illegal payments made to crooked Nigerians in violation of Nigerian, US, Swiss and British law. The A-G's business is not law, it is a grandiose system of piracy. He seizes on cases of corruption and, for a fee, muddles them with legal prestidigitation so that the cases cannot go forward. Early this month the issue arose at a meeting of leading Tivs. An attendee reported to me that he A-G was furious that Mrs. Waziri had ordered the re-arrest of the Vaswani brothers without checking with him first. He railed at her at the meeting saying "I am the Chief legal officer of Nigeria. You must check all these things with me first". Mrs. Waziri said that she had had a direct order from the President and she acted on that. The President is the head of state, not the A-G. If he orders something she must oblige. The A-G retorted that "I put you in that position and I can remove you". Mrs. Waziri retorted that she had been in government long before the A-G and he had actually fought her elevation to the head of EFCC and consistently undermined her. She added that one of the reasons that she didn't consult with him before trying to do her job properly was that "You chop from all the accused and the President wanted to prevent this in this case". Foreign governments are very disappointed with Nigerian justice. The Halliburton Case has involved long and professional investigations in eight countries by serious people. It is a disgrace that the A-G is allowed to continue in his method of confusion. This is true in the Wilbros Case and the Metropolitan Police's case against Ibori. It has made Mrs.Waziri's job very difficult and has put off a lot of support she was getting from around the world. This does not bode well for Nigeria's standing anywhere.

emenanjo  # 3 | 20.04.2009 13:16

=ocnus;348298>This is a reasonable demand. However, it is founded upon the fictional and misleading account of the Halliburton Case by the Attorney-General. The A-G says that there is no link to show that the bribe-takers (inter alia Abacha, Abubakar and Obasanjo) ever received the money. This is pure pettifoggery. The Halliburton monies were paid through Tesler and Marubeni to these worthies through accounts in Switzerland, The perpetrators have confessed to this under oath and, in the case of Halliburton, have been fined for the gross violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The head of Halliburton-KBR Albert Jack Stanley has confessed to making these payments and to the demands made by the Presidents for such payments. Indeed, he has offered to repeat his testimony in a Nigerian court. the A-G has been provided with this evidence in full through the US Ambassador and from the US Department of Justice. His purported mission to the US did not deal with this. As far as anyone knows he met with no one of importance in the US. The US is already upset with him by his dilatory behaviour on the Wilbros Case. They do not trust him. He says that despite the fact that the company admits paying the Nigerians; that the paying agents have testified under oath that they paid these Presidents and others; the A-G states that unless they signed a receipt for these corrupt payments there were no payments made. Even more bizarrely he says that there is a pot of $130 million in Switzerland that he will get back for Nigeria. There is a principle of law "Jus ex injuria non oritur" A right cannot arise from a wrong. The bribes paid illegally to the Nigerian officials are not the property of Nigeria. What a carry-on. How can he claim illegal payments as part of Nigeria's bounty. Has 419-ism suddenly become part of Nigerian law. He has no right to ask nor receive any illegal payments made to crooked Nigerians in violation of Nigerian, US, Swiss and British law. The A-G's business is not law, it is a grandiose system of piracy. He seizes on cases of corruption and, for a fee, muddles them with legal prestidigitation so that the cases cannot go forward. Early this month the issue arose at a meeting of leading Tivs. An attendee reported to me that he A-G was furious that Mrs. Waziri had ordered the re-arrest of the Vaswani brothers without checking with him first. He railed at her at the meeting saying "I am the Chief legal officer of Nigeria. You must check all these things with me first". Mrs. Waziri said that she had had a direct order from the President and she acted on that. The President is the head of state, not the A-G. If he orders something she must oblige. The A-G retorted that "I put you in that position and I can remove you". Mrs. Waziri retorted that she had been in government long before the A-G and he had actually fought her elevation to the head of EFCC and consistently undermined her. She added that one of the reasons that she didn't consult with him before trying to do her job properly was that "You chop from all the accused and the President wanted to prevent this in this case". Foreign governments are very disappointed with Nigerian justice. The Halliburton Case has involved long and professional investigations in eight countries by serious people. It is a disgrace that the A-G is allowed to continue in his method of confusion. This is true in the Wilbros Case and the Metropolitan Police's case against Ibori. It has made Mrs.Waziri's job very difficult and has put off a lot of support she was getting from around the world. This does not bode well for Nigeria's standing anywhere. Good comment but let us hope that the USA, through its foreign policies on Africa, will help us in this fight against corruption. The Halliburton scandal is just a scandal too many. I just cannot comprehend this greed! So far, Britain, America and most other European countries have shown greater enthusiasm and response in trying to help us reduce the scourge. It behoves on us to reciprocate these gestures. If we don't, a time will come when the WEST will simply loose interest in helping us out.

Gongo-aso  # 4 | 20.04.2009 15:18

Good article. Nice approach. Unfortunately, the demands here will NOT be met. A committee or panel had been set up to look into the case. Does that mean anything to us? Don't we know the end result of panel of investigation/enquiry in Nigeria? Anyway, the outcome of their investigation will be dumped into the thrash bin in 2012 when they conclude their investigations. I think we are failing to realise something here: this government is a very corrupt one and I don't think they are READY to fight any corrupt person. How many times are we going to say that a government headed by Ibori (by proxy) cannot spearhead anticorruption in Nigeria. If all these people are not removed or done away with one way or the other, there will be no successful fight against corruption. Recently the EFCC dumped the case file of Ibori in the thrash bin. Why? Because Farida and Aondoakaa (and even Yar Adua) were all sponsored by Ibori. So, it's like, I don't see any ray of hope for the anticorruption war. But still you are right for making these demands. It is just unfortunate that you are not putting anyone on their toes. Have you read "letter to the Editor" By Sonala. We have a tradition of letting things die after time. One can almost predict that this case will follow suit. It's a very sad and hopeless situation. Nigeria stopped beeding a long time ago, it is now withering... It is either the people who are suffering rise up and WAGE TOTAL WAR and RESISTANCE against the corruption themselves or the govt does nothing forever and ever. By the way, a spade is an agricultural tool...lol