Press Release: Halliburton Scandal: Let’s Call A Spade A Spade!

[Robot]

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]

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]

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]

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