Tag: Halliburton

The Federal Government is to revisit high-profile anti-corruption cases, the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) said yesterday.
There will be a scale-up of advocacy against corruption in private sectors and professional associations as part of efforts to fight corruption next year.
PACAC’s Executive Secretary Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye spoke yesterday at a news conference in Lagos to unfold the panel’s plans.
He reviewed activities of the committee in the last one year.
According to Owasanoye, PACAC will scale up anti-corruption advocacy through engagement of civil society organisations, citizens and state and local governments.
On plea bargain, he said: “No government has the capacity to prosecute all manner of offences; that is the reason there is a legal framework for plea bargain.
“The plea bargain is not a trade off, but has been set up with other guidelines to refrain suspects from perceiving it as an outlet for easy escape.
“The Administration of Criminal Justice Act is meant to resolve challenges in the criminal justice system; if it is failing, then it is as a result of implementation.’’
He stressed the need to further build capacities of ministries, departments and agencies as well as the judiciary, on money laundering and asset recovery.
Owasanoye said PACAC would track high-profile cases and ensure improved application of sanctions.
“We intend to revisit some high-rofile corruption cases, such as Halliburton, and see them to a logical conclusion,’’ he said.
He listed public apathy and elite complicity as some challenges PACAC had in the last one year.
According to him, poor economy, ineffective application of preventive measures and negative use of constitution can aid corruption.
The executive secretary called for improved collaboration of all arms of government in fighting corruption.
PACAC member Prof. Etannibi Alemika stressed the need to evaluate and enhance capacities of agencies fighting corruption.
He said Nigerians must give informed reports on corruption.
According to Alemika, journalists and civil society organisations can create more public awareness on consequences of corruption.
“Nigerians must learn to get the narrative back to behaviour,’’ he said.

Despite the payment of fines by some companies, fresh facts emerged yesterday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may soon bring prominent Nigerians implicated in the $180m Halliburton bribe to justice.

About four former Heads of State and 89 prominent Nigerians were allegedly linked with the scandal.

In all, 76 prominent Nigerians are listed in the five notebooks submitted by the Halliburton Group to the EFCC.

There were indications yesterday that the anti-graft agency may quiz some of those listed.

A former Minister of Petroleum Resources has admitted collecting inducement from the bribery agent, Jeffrey Tesler/TSKJ.

It was learnt that about $2.5million was paid into the ex-minister’s account in Switzerland in 1998.

A top source in EFCC said: “We are looking into all aspects of the Halliburton scandal, including the bribe takers. This latest probe of the scandal is comprehensive.”

According to a document obtained by our correspondent, those implicated in the Halliburton Notebooks are: Four ex-Heads of State;  two former Chiefs of General Staff, two ex-First Ladies; ex-CBN Governor; three former Military Governors/ Administrators;  a former Deputy Governor of CBN, 11 former ministers(including two ex-Ministers of Petroleum Resources); two retired permanent secretaries  and three ex-NNPC GMDs.

Others are ex-secretaries to the Government of the Federation; a former civilian governor in the South-East; a former Ambassador to Italy, an ex-envoy to Brazil, three ex-NNPC secretaries, a former Chief Security Officer to a former Head of State; former MD, NLNG/Shell; former Chief of Army Staff; a former Field Commandant of ECOMOG in Liberia; ex-MD of NAFCON; and more than 13 former NNPC top shots.

However, some of the ex-Heads of State were claiming that they received gifts and not bribes, sources said.

The report said in part:    Following the submission made by Halliburton Group of Companies a 500-page document in five notebooks on 2nd September, 2004 which was allegedly found in the archives of the London Office of KBR by Halliburton’s Attorneys investigating this matter, a thorough examination of the said notebooks was done.

“Although the information contained in these Notebooks are not specific in terms of amount allegedly collected by named Nigerian officials from officials of TSKJ as an inducement for favours in the award of contract, it shed light on this scam and confirmed the existence of some sort of inducements shared by both officials of TSKJ and Nigerian Government who were in position to influence the award of the contract.

“A former Minister was a key player in this scam and had already admitted to collecting money as inducement from Jeffrey Tesler/TSKJ to the investigating magistrate in Paris.

“That the agreement between Tri-Star Investment Ltd/Jeffrey Tesler/TSKJ for the executions of the alleged bribery scandal making way for TSKJ as favoured contractor for the award of the building and expansion of NLNG was signed and sealed on 22nd March 1995.

“The mandate of Tri-Star Investments was among others to secure the award of the building and expansion project on negotiated basis as opposed to participating in a competitive bidding process. It was also to assist in maintaining of favourable relationships with the client and any other government authorities;

“Based on the extensive analysis of the Five Notebooks submitted by the Halliburton Group and extensive investigations carried out so far, the following facts are clearly established:-

(a.)  That Jeffrey Tesler was and is actually involved with several Nigerian Generals and with people in authority in the past and present;

(b.) That Jeffrey Tesler’s Tri-Star Investment Ltd entered into Consulting and Commercial Promotion Services for the Nigeria LNG Project.

(c.) That Jeffrey Tesler and others working in pursuance of the above mentioned agreements did meet several Nigerian Government officials and did pay gratifications/inducements/retro commissions/bribes to them in the process. These bribes were given to secure the NLNG contract and maintaining favourable relationships with client and any other governmental authorities;

(d.) That analysis of the Notebooks submitted by Halliburton Group of Companies mentioned several prominent Nigerians.”

The $180million bribery scandal involved the former Halliburton’s subsidiary, Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR) in respect of the nation’s Liquefied Natural Gas plant in Bonny.

Albert J. Stanley admitted before a Houston Court in the US on September 4, 2008 that he orchestrated more than $180million in bribe to senior government officials.

Stanley alleged that the bribe was channeled through a UK based lawyer, Mr. Jeffery Tesler, in four installments of $60million; $32.5million; $51million and $23million.

The bribe was allegedly facilitated between 1995 and 2005 in London.

The countries where the bribe money was allegedly stashed by some top government officials and their accomplices are France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Portugal and Seychelles.

Tesler, 63, was in February, 2012 sentenced to 21 months in Prison in the US after pleading guilty to the offer of princely bribe sums to some Nigerian Government officials with $132 million dollars between 1994 and 2004.

He also forfeited $149 million to US authorities under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

About five companies indicted for the Halliburton scam have paid about $200million fines.

The breakdown of the $200m remittances by the five companies was as follows: Julius Berger ($35m); Siemens (Euros 30m); Snamprogetti ($30m); Halliburton Energy Services ($32,500,000); and Japan Gasoline Corporation ($26, 500,000).

The whereabouts of about $32.5million of the fines has led to the interrogation of some senior lawyers.

Those who had been interrogated by the EFCC are a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, J.B Daudu (SAN), Mr. E.C Ukala (SAN) Chief Godwin Obla (SAN), D.D. Dodo (SAN) and a top shot of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Roland Ewubare.

Also, an Abuja High Court on March 27, 2013 struck out the case against six Nigerian suspects arraigned over the Halliburton scandal.

Those set free were a former Permanent Secretary, Ibrahim Aliyu, Mohammed Gidado Bakari and four companies.

The four companies are Urban Shelter Ltd, Intercellular Nigeria Ltd, Sherwood Petroleum Ltd and Tri-Star Investment Ltd.

The six accused persons had stood trial for allegedly serving as conduits and receiving bribes in hard currency to facilitate natural gas contracts between 1994 and 2005.

The trial judge, Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar, said the prosecution had failed to diligently prosecute the case.

On his part, Mr. Adeyanju Bodunde (a former Personal Assistant to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo) was still battling in the court to prove his innocence over alleged $5million payments made to him between 2002 and 2003.

A former EFCC chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu , who spoke in Germany on the Halliburton scandal in February,  expressed regrets that the Halliburton scandal was frustrated in the country.

He said “a gang of foreigners stole from Nigeria”  from a $6 billion natural gas contract won by a consortium of four international companies.

Ribadu added:  “I first got hint of the case in France. I got back home and tried to investigate the case but it was very difficult or probably impossible because the companies were not there in Nigeria, they didn’t have account there, the people were not there. They had left.

“I rushed back to Paris. I was in Paris many times. I put in a request letter but after a year of trying to get French authorities to help us, the investigation magistrate told me that they could not get anyone to translate my letter from English to French. I knew it was a hopeless case.”

He said  after failing to get France, Italy and Japan to help, he opted to go to the United States even though Dick Cheney, the then US vice president, was on the board of Halliburton.

“The Department of Justice in the United States took up the case. They investigated and prosecuted the case. They placed a fine of over $1.5 billion on the company, the biggest in the world for corporate corruption.”

He said some of  the cases  which the EFCC under his watch referred to US Department of Justice, including those of Siemens and Julius Berger, the US made over $3 billion in fines.

“But the sad aspect is this, in my own country, where the criminal activity took place, not a single person was made to face justice, especially after I was asked to leave my position. Sadly Nigeria did not make a dollar out of it,” he added.

 

A former Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), yesterday said he knew nothing about how an Escrow Account was opened and $32.5 million fines from Halliburton Energy Services paid into it.

He said he was not briefed about the existent of any Escrow Account at any time by a member of the legal team of the Federal Government, Mr. Roland Ewubare, who was National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) former Executive Secretary.

He explained that the team was constituted to initiate criminal proceedings against the five companies involved in the Halliburton bribe scandal.

The five firms, which later settled for plea bargain, were: Julius Berger ($35m); Siemens (Euros 30m); Snamprogetti ($30m); Halliburton Energy Services ($32,500,000) and Japan Gasoline Corporation ($26, 500,000).

Adoke, who spoke exclusively with The Nation on the telephone, said he did his best for the nation.

He said: “On assumption of office in 2010, I was approached by then chairperson of the EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, that she has a request from some American lawyers to sue, on behalf of Nigeria, Halliburton and associated companies involved in the $180 million bribe scandal.

“She came with the lawyers to see me and when I read the terms of their demand. I declined to engage them and rather opted to set up a team of lawyers to initiate criminal proceedings against the companies against the backdrop of our previous experience in the Pfizer case.

“The lawyers introduced by the EFCC wanted to be entitled to 33 1\3 of whatever was recovered, which I felt was outrageous and also wanted us to cede the control of the case to them.

“I asked the EFCC to nominate a lawyer into the team and Godwin Obla (SAN) was nominated while Emmanuel Akomoye, the then secretary of the commission was co-opted to assist the team.

“In the course of the prosecution, there was a need to enter into plea bargain due to National Security concerns and Kayode Are, the Deputy NSA, was directed by the then NSA, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, to lead the negotiations.

“After the negotiations and agreement were signed, the OAGF was requested to furnish the federal accounts in which the fines were to be paid. And that was the sequence all the other negotiations followed.

“I was not aware of the opening of the Escrow Account in the USA nor was I informed and I didn’t know of the existence of any such account before now. I, therefore, have no explanation to offer than I had previously offered on record.

“The EFCC should, therefore, spare me the ordeal of trying at all cost to bring me down for I am beyond blemish in this or any other transaction while in office.”

He challenged any lawyer that had ever given him bribe to come out and say so, adding that as AGF, he was very careful.

The reaction of the ex-Minister followed indications that EFCC was looking into the roles played by two former National Security Advisers, Gen. Aliyu Gusau and the late Owoye Azazi, and two former Attorneys-General of the Federation on the facilitation of $200million Settlement Agreement with Halliburton and four others.

The past AGFs are Mr. Mike Aondoakaa (SAN) and Adoke (SAN), who have claimed that they never benefitted from the agreement in any manner whatsoever.

The anti-graft agency has however retrieved a copy of the agreement signed with a U.S. law firm, Madison Avenue Legal Resources LLP from the Federal Ministry of Justice and Aondoakaa, who initiated the pact.

It was also learnt that the EFCC has traced the Escrow Account to Madison Escrow Services LLC (the “Escrow Agent”) at the instance of Ewubare, who went to the United States to get the document.

About $32.5million (N13, 585,000, 000) out of about $200million fines from Halliburton Energy Services was allegedly paid into the Escrow Account.

Ewubare was said to have submitted a document to the anti-graft agency, showing how the Escrow agent was engaged by the FGN, through the Office of the National Security Adviser, to save the nation about $540million from garnishee judgments.

The document showed that the total compensation received by the Escrow Agent for its services was $2.5million.

But the EFCC is probing why the N13.5 billion was not remitted into the Federation Account in accordance with extant laws.

Those interrogated by the EFCC on the matter are a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, J.B Daudu (SAN), Mr. E.C Ukala (SAN), Obla (SAN), D.D. Dodo (SAN) and Ewubare.

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr. Ibrahim Magu, yesterday said the agency will get to the roots of the $180million Halliburton scandal and other outstanding corruption cases.

Magu, who spoke when the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) and members visited the commission, said the EFCC is getting back the confidence of the people.

He said: “We are restructuring the operations aspect of the Commission and weeding out the bad eggs. We are also carrying the anti-corruption crusade to the grassroots.”

“The efforts of the agency are yielding results. We are determined to get to the root of major corruption cases in the country, including the Halliburton case.

“We are getting back the confidence we have been lacking.”

He said the EFCC was facing a major problem with regards to accommodation, and there was a need to have an Academy equipped to international standards.

Speaking during the visit, Sagay urged the EFCC not to relent in carrying out its mandate of ridding the country of economic and financial crimes.

A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren quoted Sagay as saying:  “The common interest of Nigerians is at stake, because corruption affects everyone, and we have the same objective, therefore you can rely on us to give you support in all ramifications,” he said.

He praised Magu for rejuvenating the activities of the anti-graft agency, Sagay noted that there was still much more to be done.

“The energy you have brought in to the activities of the EFCC since your assumption of office has encouraged us, and we want you to continue to do more,” Sagay added.

Re-echoing the views of Sagay, the committee’s secretary, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, spoke on the importance of securing convictions in cases involving high profile individuals.

“We commend you for your efforts, but there is need to further enhance the good work you are doing by securing convictions in high profile cases,” he said.

Other members of the committee at the meeting are: Prof. Sadiq Isa Radda, Prof. E. Alemika, Prof. Femi Odekunle, Ona Peters, Ola Olukayode, and Olusegun Odesina.

Two Federal Government officials have gone to the United States for talks on President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war.

Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chair Ibrahim Magu are in the United States, barely two weeks after a similar trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where about $200b looted funds are believed to have been stashed away by former public officers.

On the agenda are likely to be the extent of the war against graft,  how to repatriate looted funds, the fate of fleeing former public officers, the $180million Halliburton bribery scandal and the $2billion Malabu Oil deal.

The AGF and the EFCC are to participate in the US-Nigeria Bi-National Commission meeting.

According to sources, the EFCC chairman has been in the US in the last five days to meet with various departments connected with the anti-graft war.

It was learnt that the AGF later joined the EFCC boss because of many pending legal issues on corruption matters involving some former public officers.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The AGF and the EFCC chairman are in the US to give status report on the anti-corruption war by the government, areas requiring assistance and how to explore ways of legally ensuring that ex-public officers who have fled to the US return home to account for their tenure.

“Certainly, the agenda will include some issues like the $180million Halliburton bribery scandal, the $2b Malabu Oil deal, the Abacha loot, money laundering cases, 419 scams and the use of some banks for transactions by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for arms purchase.

“Some of those involved in the $2.1billion Halliburton scam have relocated to the US for further studies or medical trip. A few others have dual citizenship and decided to take advantage to hide in the US.

“We need to act within the ambits of the law and collaborate with the US on how to bring back these suspected former public officers to account for their activities in office.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “For the AGF and the EFCC chairman, they just came on board and it is imperative for them to compare notes and build contacts with relevant departments and security agencies.

“The discussion might also focus on capacity building for staff of anti-corruption agencies. The FBI had been of help over the years but we need more technical back up to win the war.

“As a matter of fact, the US had reservations on the anti-corruption policy of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and these observations slowed down exchange of information, sharing of intelligence and coordination of activities between the two countries.

“The renewed commitment of the government of President Buhari has buoyed the confidence of the US that the anti-corruption war is winnable.”

A source in EFCC said: “The trip was in connection with the Federal Government’s anti-graft war.”

A presidency source said: “Both the AGF and the EFCC chairman are members of the Nigerian delegation to the US- Nigeria Bi-National Commission where issues of mutual interest and economic benefits are usually discussed. Definitely, the recovery of looted funds will be dominant at the meetings with the AGF and EFCC chairman.

“You will recall that on his first day in office, the President said. ‘The next three months may be hard, but billions of dollars can be recovered, and we will do our best.’ The intensity of the war against corruption has earned Buhari the confidence of the US and others.”

It was gathered that the Halliburton bribery scandal might attract attention at the talks.

The EFCC had in January reopened investigation into the $180million Halliburton scam.

Of about $22, 417, 000 and DRM 500,000 bribes shared to top government officials during the administrations of ex-Heads of State Gen. Sani Abacha and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

An Abuja High Court on March 27, 2013 struck out the case against six Nigerians arraigned over the scandal.

Those set free are a former Permanent Secretary,  Ibrahim Aliyu, Mohammed Gidado Bakari and four companies.

The four companies are Urban Shelter Ltd., Intercellular Nigeria Ltd., Sherwood Petroleum Ltd. and Tri-Star Investment Ltd.

The six accused persons stood trial for allegedly  serving as conduits and receiving bribes in hard currency to facilitate natural gas contracts between 1994 and 2005.

Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar,  said the prosecution had failed to diligently prosecute the case.

Also,  Bodunde Adeyanju, Obasanjo’s former presidential aide, was arraigned in 2010 alongside George Mark, Jeffrey Tesler(now at large), Hans George Christ, Heinrich J. Stockhausen; Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and Bilfinger  Berger GMBH.

It was learnt that Adeyanju has a pending application in the Supreme Court.

Some Senior Advocates of Nigeria have been quizzed by the EFCC in connection with the scandal.

•Agency tracks other suspects

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday grilled a senior Advocate, Mr. Godwin Obla, on his role and four others in negotiating plea bargain on the $180million bribery with five companies.

The other affected lawyers are a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), J. B. Daudu (SAN);  Damian D. Dodo(SAN); E.C. Ukala (SAN); and Roland Ewubare.

The anti- graft agency has been tracing the whereabouts of the $200m (N66billion) penalty fines paid by five companies involved in the scandal.

The breakdown of the remittances by the five companies is as follows: Julius Berger ($35m); Siemens (Euros 30m); Snamprogetti ($30m); Halliburton Energy Services ($32,500,000); and Japan Gasoline Corporation ($26, 500,000).

Also, the anti-graft agency may ask the lawyers who handled the settlement agreement to account for about $12million (N3.960billion) collected as “legal fees”.

Investigation revealed that Obla was invited for allegedly coordinating settlement terms and agreement with Siemens.

Obla, who got to the EFCC headquarters at about 10am, was released at about 3.37pm

A source said: “We have intensified the ongoing probe of the $180m Halliburton bribery scam with the interrogation of one of the lawyers involved in the negotiation settlement, Mr. Godwin Obla (SAN).

“You know he played a prominent role in the agreement with the five companies. He coordinated the negotiation with Siemens. We only asked him to explain the extent of his involvement as disclosed by his colleague, Mr. Damian Dodo(SAN).

“He has been allowed to go home but we may still invite him for further interrogation. We are closing in on more suspects.”

The source added that Obla “was granted bail on self-recognition.”

In a letter to the EFCC chairman, Mr. Damian Dodo( SAN) gave the breakdown of the payment of penalty fines including:

• Julius Berger . “Following the Settlement Agreement meeting which held in the office of the National Security Adviser and with Julius Berger Plc represented by Alh. Abdullahi Ibrahim, SAN (former Attorney-General of the Federation) the total sum of $35,000,000 (Thirty Five Million US Dollars) was paid to the Federal Government Account. Copies of all relevant correspondence are attached for ease reference.
• Siemens “The Settlement and Non-prosecution Agreement with Siemens was entered into on the 22nd of November, 2010 following which the sum of €30,000,000 (Thirty Million Euros) which was Six Billion, Fifty Two Million, Two Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira (N6,052,270.00)

“The Professional fees and cost as contained in the Agreement payable to the Legal Team was paid into the account of the designated Counsel, Godwin Obla of Obla & Co for and on behalf of the Legal team as instructed by the Team Leader

• Snamprogetti. “The Settlement Agreement with Snamprogetti was reached on the 10th of December, 2010. The Federal Government of Nigeria received the sum of $30,000,000 (Thirty Million US Dollars) as a consequence of the Settlement Agreement.
• Halliburton Energy Services. “The Settlement Agreement entered into by the Federal Government with Halliburton Energy Services culminated in the Federal Government receiving the sum of $32, 500, 000 (Thirty Two Million, Five Hundred US Dollars) in the designated Federal Government Account as indicated in the first schedule of the Agreement

“As contained in the Agreement the fees payable to the Legal Team acting for the Federal Government was paid into the designated account of D.D Dodo & Co for and on behalf of the Legal Team as instructed by the Team Leader.

• Japan Gasoline Corporation JGC. “The Settlement and Non-prosecution Agreement with Japan Gasoline Corporation was entered into on the 7th of January, 2011, following which JGC paid the Federal Government of Nigeria the sum of $26, 500,000 (Twenty Six Million, Five Hundred US Dollars) in the designated account
• “The Legal Team received its professional fees and cost through its designated Counsel D.D Dodo, SAN of D.D Dodo & Co. for and pm behalf of the Legal Team as instructed by Team Leader

“All the professional fees and cost due to the Legal Team as received by Messrs J.B Daudu, Godwin Obla and D.D Dodo were disbursed to members of the Legal Team as directed by the Team Leader, J.B Daudu, SAN.

“It is worth pointing out that relevant Agencies of Government were involved in this Settlement Agreements including the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission. The Secretary of the EFCC (Emmanuel Akomaye) witnessed three (3) of the Agreements; namely: The SNAMPROGETTI Agreement, the HALLIBURTON Agreement and the JAPAN GASOLINE CORPORATION Agreement on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria

“It is perhaps important to invite the attention of the Commission to the confirmation by the Federal Government in various Agreements that payment of fees and cost to the Federal Government of Nigeria designated Counsel is lawful under Nigerian Law

“Typically for example, Clause 6 of the Agreement with Japan gasoline Corporation provide, that; “FGN confirms that the reimbursement of the FGN legal costs to the FGN designated counsel in the terms of the Agreements is lawful under Nigerian laws and regulations, and FGN designated counsel has confirmed to FGN that no proceeds of such reimbursement will be provided to any government officials”

“The Legal Team is available to give or provide you such further documents or clarification that may be required as we continue to be of service to the Federal Government of Nigeria since 2010.”

An Abuja High Court on March 27, 2013 struck out the case against six Nigerian suspects arraigned over the Halliburton scandal.

Those set free were a former Permanent Secretary, Ibrahim Aliyu, Mohammed Gidado Bakari and four companies.

The four companies are Urban Shelter Ltd, Intercellular Nigeria Ltd, Sherwood Petroleum Ltd and Tri-Star Investment Ltd.

The six accused persons had stood trial for allegedly serving as conduits and receiving bribes in hard currency to facilitate natural gas contracts between 1994 and 2005.

The trial judge, Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar, said the prosecution failed to diligently prosecute the case.

Bodunde Adeyanju, a former aide to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo was arraigned in 2010 alongside George Mark, Jeffrey Tesler (now at large), Hans George Christ, Heinrich J. Stockhausen; Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Bilfinger Berger GMBH.

George Mark, Jeffrey Tesler(now at large), Hans George Christ, Heinrich J. Stockhausen; Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Bilfinger Berger GMBH were alleged to have sometimes between 2002 and 2003  conspired to make several cash payments in the sum of US$1million(five times) totaling in equivalent the sum of $5million to Adeyanju.

They were alleged to have committed an offence contrary to Section 16 of the Money Laundering Act 1995(as saved by Section 23(2) of the Money Laundering Act 2004) and punishable under Section 15(2) and (3) of the Money Laundering Act 1995(as saved by Section 23(2) of the Money Laundering Act, 2004).

The status of Adeyanju’s trial was unknown as at press time.

The $180million bribery scandal involved the former Halliburton’s subsidiary, Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR) in respect of the nation’s Liquefied Natural Gas plant in Bonny.

Albert J. Stanley admitted before a Houston Court in the US on September 4, 2008 that he orchestrated more than $180million in bribe to senior government officials.

Stanley alleged that the bribe was channelled through a UK based lawyer, Mr. Jeffery Tesler, in four instalments of $60million; $32.5million; $51million and $23million.

The bribe was allegedly facilitated between 1995 and 2005 in London.

The countries where the bribe money was allegedly stashed by some top government officials and their accomplices are France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Portugal and Seychelles.

Tesler, 63, was in February, 2012 sentenced to 21 months in Prison in the US after pleading guilty in March last year to bribing Nigerian Government officials with $132 million dollars between 1994 and 2004.

He also forfeited $149 million to US authorities under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

According to investigation, Tesler played a fast one on Nigerian officials who were to benefit from the $180m by diverting $133, 073,750million to his account in Switzerland.

He only shared about $22, 417, 000 and DRM 500,000 to some top government officials.

Upon discovery of the $133, 073,750m in Tesler’s account, the Swiss government froze the account and during the trial of the accused person, the looted fund was transferred to the US.