The Nigerian Village Square - France to Try Ex-Minister Dan Etete for Corruption

France to Try Ex-Minister Dan Etete for Corruption

Written by News Reports - The Tocqueville Connection

Sunday, 21 January 2007

France to Try Nigerian Ex-Minister for Corruption
Received Sunday, 21 January 2007 11:00:00 GMT

PARIS, Jan 21, 2007 (AFP) - A former Nigerian oil minister is to stand trial in France for money laundering as part of a probe into suspected kickbacks paid by oil majors for contracts in Nigeria, a French newspaper reported on Sunday.

Dan Etete, who served between 1993 and 1998 under Nigeria's late dictator Sani Abacha and now lives in Britain, was placed under investigation in 2003 over a series of luxury property purchases in France.

Between 1999 and 2000, he acquired an upmarket flat in Paris, a house in a chic Paris suburb and a chateau in northwestern France, for a total of 15 million euros (19.5 million dollars).

Investigators suspect the funds were obtained through kickbacks from oil groups including France's Elf-Aquitaine -- now part of Total -- and Canada's Addax Petroleum, for drilling rights in Nigeria. Etete denies the charges.

According to the Journal du Dimanche newspaper, French judge Renaud Van Ruymbeke signed the trial order on Wednesday. It did not say whether a date had been set.

A French trader, Richard Granier-Deferre, is also to stand trial as an accessory, the paper said.

Africa's largest producer and the world's sixth-largest exporter, Nigeria draws more than 95 percent of its revenue from oil.

Robot Robot is offline
Villager


	# 1 France to Try Nigerian Ex-Minister for Corruption...Read the full article. Posted by Robot\| 21.01.2007 13:35

akuluouno akuluouno is offline
Villager


	# 2 Up Nigeria. Our perfidy and infamy will never tire to numb the international community to stupor. When Ribadu accused France of aiding and abetting Nigerian looters, I knew that he has dared the lion and very soon France will open up and help us launder our dirty linens in the global village. Recall that this giant with a clay feet has always been an obstacle to their strategic interest sin W Africa. Howevewr, I thought the gap toothed evil one will be the first to be exposed knowing that he had used the excuse of radiculopathy to corner and evacuate a huge portion of the ND baked national cake to Paris coupled with allegations that his wife owns an upmarket women's salon to boot in the city of lights. If you recalled, after Ribadu's tirade against the descendants of Charles DeGaulle, France responded by warning that following the introduction of biometric visa by the EU, henceforth all visa applicants at the French legate in Abuja must be present physically before the visa is issued. Little did I know that Etete will appear in the horizon. Well the man should know that his days in the UK are numbered because Britain would not hesitate to frog march him to Paris in the spirit of EU to face the charges levelled against him. Another option is for hiim to do an Alams abracadabra. Ribadu over to you and your EFCC. Thanks to France you have discovered the lost loot of Etete. Nigerian elites please je je oo no take life serious you hear, je jeo jejeo je jeo my dear. Je jeo no loot your fatherland dry, you hear, Je jeo je jeo no kill our father land you hear oooooo. :twisted: :twisted: :evil: :evil: :eek: :eek: Posted by akuluouno\| 21.01.2007 14:00

fulani fulani is offline
Villager


	# 3 Way to go France!!!! Two Thumbs Up!!! Being waiting for this type of news for a while. Those that launder money to the USA should be very afraid!! The Patriot Act will soon catch up to them. Financial Institutions are expanding their due dilligence requirements regarding source of wealth. If you can't explain your wealth they cut you a cashier's check and off you go. Nigerians need these countries and institutions in the fight against corruption, no doubt about it. I hope the drag net is expanded to other well known culprits. Posted by fulani\| 21.01.2007 15:16

No Smoking No Smoking is offline
Villager


	# 4 Yeah. The world is becoming too small for corrupt looters. Those fleeing to Canada will soon find out.. Posted by No Smoking\| 21.01.2007 16:09

fowler55 fowler55 is offline
JJC


	# 5 a good thing the foreign oil companies implicated in the bribery scandal have been named and shamed. they should be thoroughly investigated and their chief execs or any member of staff found implicated should face justice. they are as guilty as etete himself. Posted by fowler55\| 21.01.2007 16:24

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