ABUJA — Following the
directive by President Goodluck Jonathan that the investigative report into the
$180 million Halliburton bribery scandal be re-opened and the major culprits
re-arrested,Vanguard gathered that this has resulted in a
fall out between two former heads of state and President Jonathan.
The two former
heads of state (names withheld) were said to have been found in the
investigative report to have benefitted from the sharing of the Halliburton
bribe money using fronts who have already confessed that they were only
fronting for their principals.
Incidentally, when
the investigation team took off from Abuja sometime in 2010 and landed in
Ibadan on their way to the home of one of the indicted persons, Bodunde
Adeyanju, to recover documents relating to how the Halliburton bribe money was
collected and disbursed, the team was sent back to Abuja from the Ibadan
airport.
Jonathan determined to prosecute suspect
It was gathered
that President Jonathan is determined to prosecute those found wanting in the
bribery scandal to demonstrate not only to Nigerians who feel he is a toothless
bulldog when it comes to fighting corruption, but also to show the
international community that corrupt people, no matter their status in the
society, can be brought to book in Nigeria.
And as part of this
determination, it was gathered that an approval has been secured by the
five-man inter-agency panel headed by the Inspector General of Police,
including EFCC, SSS, and ICPC, to travel to France, United Kingdom, Switzerland
and Spain to confirm the foreign leg of the investigations which mostly
involves wiring of the funds, the amounts and the account holders.
It will be recalled
that this aspect of the investigation was to be carried out in 2010, as the
visas had been acquired and about N50million meant for the trip and
investigation expenses made available but the trip was called off following
pressure said to have been mounted on the office of the Attorney General of the
federation by a former head of state.
Already, Vanguard gathered that the US government has
sent a letter to the Federal Government warning that it may apply certain
amount of sanctions in line with international anti-corruption protocols if the
culprits are not prosecuted and if the $26.5 million paid by Julius Berger as
Plea Bargain is not located and given to the Police.
Meanwhile, the
Police authorities are said to be working round the clock to unravel the
mystery surrounding whereabouts of the Julius Berger plea bargain money with
the Inspector General of Police vowing that the money must be found.
It was gathered
that as part of investigation on the matter, all the receipts of plea bargain
money returned by other suspects during investigation, and whose amounts were
lodged in such government accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Ministry
of Finance, Accountant General’s office and the office of the Accountant General
of the federation have been recalled and the monies located except that
returned by Julius Berger.
It will be recalled
that President Jonathan had directed the Police to resuscitate the
investigative report of the $180million Halliburton scam following America ’s
insistence that the culprits in the bribery scandal must be brought to book
before the $130million in US coffers can be returned to Nigeria .
America also
insisted that the $26.5million plea bargain money returned by Construction
giant, Julius Berger, must be located and made available to Police following
suspicion that the money has developed legs and ended up in some person’s
pocket.
Since the directive
there has been confusion over the whereabouts of the huge amount of money and
this according to sources has angered President Jonathan who has subsequently
charged the Attorney General of the federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke to fish out
the money and make it available to the Police by end of this week.
The decision to
task the Attorney General with the assignment according to sources followed
conflicting statements by both Julius Berger, office of the Accountant General
of the federation and the Police investigators about the true position of the
funds. One account said the money was in the possession of the Accountant
General of the federation. Another account said the money was being kept in the
office of the AGF while the Police said they are at a loss of the money’s
whereabouts.
Julius Berger one
of the companies indicted in the Halliburton $180 million bribery scandal had
opted for a plea bargain in order to be speared the prosecution process
following the conclusion of the 5 man inter-agency investigation panel.
Source: Vanguard
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