Nigeria Drops Charges Against Dick Cheney After Agreeing To Paltry $35 Million Settlement Fee: Why EFCC Lied On Halliburton Bribery Settlement

@Abuja Guy,

Thanks a lot for the clarification. Although Nigeria is still crawling, I believe there are still some bright spots and the authorities do get somethings right once in a while. Good work EFCC

SR continue exposing all exposables whether its from the abachas, IBBs,Atikus,GEJs,OBJs,the Adenugas,the Fasholas, the Tinubus,the numerous General overseers and General superintendents,the imams, the babalawos,etc..

Continue jare.....

The attorney general had a news conference to explain how the Nigerian Government got $250M.

Each of the 4 firms in the TSKJ consortium paid an average of $30M in fines (including Halliburton). That brings it to $120 and as part of the settlement, they will ensure the Swiss government turns over the $130M frozen in the accounts over there and thats how you get to $250M to the Nigerian government.

Farida and her incompetent lot could not explain properly to the public but that is no excuse for a professional journalist to do his homework before printing misinformation.

Obviously, I have direct info on what happened from the actual players. I'm sure the public didn't know that this whole case (start to finish) took less than 2months. And at the beginning, Halliburton told the Nigerian officials to fuck-off (since they already paid a fine to the US government) and the Nigerian team responded with a threat to arrest all Halliburton staff in Nigeria and file charges in Abuja. Halliburton hired a plane to airlift all their expatriates out of Nigeria and refused to come to Nigeria to negotiate for fear of arrests. But they only came back to negotiate after the highly embarrassing charges against Dick Cheney was filed in Abuja.

So there you have it. That is exactly what happened. Everything else is either misleading or outright false.

i personally find it insulting to all nigerians 'nd americans alike that the efcc, aided by the nigerian government, will seek to arrest a non national when it's yet to try the nationals clearly indicted in this case. it's a shame. this is precisely why the international community laugh at us. 'nd in our faces too...

This is the character of Goodluck on Curruption. It is now clear that Ibori the only Polician targeted is beacsue of the his political position. GEJ cannot fight curruption because he will also be asked to explain the depletion of foriegn reserve and excess crude.

I am shocked to read what Egoigwe and Visser wrote. Thank you Fadayomi for exposing them. There is certainly lots of hired hands after SR on these forums. By their fruits we shall know them.

Egoigwe and Visser, I think the difference between you guys and SR is that SR actually does its research and presents facts and not fiction.

The US made some cool $1.58 Billion from Halliburton, Technip SA, ENI over the the $180 bribe to Nigerian officials. There is room to make more with the possible trial of Jeffrey Tesler.
I break it down here for you:

1. KBR / Halliburton: $579 million in 2009-US DOJ and US SEC.
2. Albert "Jack" Stanley -$10.8 million in fines+jail time
3. Technip S.A.: $338 million in 2010.
4. Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. / ENI S.p.A: $365 million in 2010.
Calculator:
579.8
+10.8
+338.00
+365.00=$1.582.8 Billion
-------
TOTAL: $1.582 Billion
-------
According to you after all the shakara, Nigeria made Halliburton and Dick Cheney pay ($35million); ENI ($32.5million); Technip ($30million) and Gasoline Corporation of Japan ($30million). Nigeria made $127 million, NOT $250 Million claimed by the EFCC spokesperson, Babafemi! Do the math

SR report stated clearly that the US made over $1 billion from the bribery consortium, they were right, in fact they possibly underestimated the fees.

It is obvious there is a tendency to run SR down whenever the opportunity presents itself, guys, they are the only trustworthy ones we have. We should support SR to do more not forge figures and quote incomplete sources to run down SR. Please ask me for the source of my figures, I'll gladly provide it.

If the account of the story submitted by Egoigwe happens to be true, then one can boldly say that SR is not fit for purpose. Why tell lies just to create havoc for others? Who is paying you to do this dirty job? I am quite sure that in the US where you are currently based, this type of journalism is only confined to the dust bin - knowing fully well that if you publish false information for the purpose of inciting others you could be easily sued and made to pay damages. I think it is high time someone takes the bull by the horn, if you publish any false or defamatory story about anyone, those affected should be able to take the fight to your door step by instigating a court case against you in the US.

BUNCH OF CRAZY PEOPLE ALWAYS MAKING A MOCKERY OF THEMSELVES NIGHT AND DAY. TOOTHLESS BULLDOG THAT CAN ONLY BACK TO HIGH HEAVENS BUT CAN NOT BITE! I WONDER IF THEY HAVE ANY BRAIN IN THEIR ROTTEN SKULLS! OH BECAUSE YOU BUY PRESIDENTIAL JET NOW AND YOU YOU ARE BUILDING THIEVES DEN YOU CALLED 'AAH BOO JAH' YOU THINK YOU ARE ALL SOME SHIT? WHAT COULD YOU DO WHEN YOU IGNORANTLY DECIDED TO BAN THE EAGLES? YOUR MASTERS LASHED OUT ON YOU AND YOU TURNED AROUNG AT THE INSTANT.
ONE STUPID SARAKULE GOT UP ONE MORNING AFTER EATING SOME STINKING SHINKAFA TO VOICE OUT THEY PLAN TO CHARGE UNITED STATES EX-VP???? IGNORANT! WHY DID YOU BOW OUT? WHY DIDN'T YOU GO AHEAD AND SEND IN YOU BEST ARMY GENERALS TO DO THE JOB MAYBE ALIBABANGIDA OR WHAT THE SHIT YOU CALL HIM . ONYIOSI! ONYIBERIBE! THE WHOLE COUNTRY TURNS TO A RUBLE ROOM BEFORE THEIR GOOD FOR NOTHING EYES THEY CANT DO JACK BUT THEY WANT TO BRAG THEY TOO ARE SOMETHING . WELL SOMETHING OF COURSE- FOOLS!
YOU BETTER TRY AND PUT YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER. 21ST CENTURY CAN NOT WAIT FOR IDIOTS!

On December 21, 2010 - 20:36. on a different forum, I said:
'Quietly, Nigeria has dropped the bribery charges against Dick Cheney and Haliburton.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12018900

"The EFCC had been conducting its own investigations and last week filed 16 charges."

So if they filed these charges, there must be TAKERS of these bribes. By this new agreement, Haliburton is now acquitted of any crime. It then follows that the criminals at Nigerian end are also absolved of any crime!

Simple logic.

See how the high, mighty and well connected get away with crime in this world?

Not a single comment by anyone as to the true implication of this singular act for the high profile list of Nigerians involved in this scam.

See full list below:

http://www.saharareporters.com/report/how-halliburton-bribed-top-80-nige...

By this 'brilliant legalistic stroke', EFCC has now absolved our Nigerian 'LEADERS' or is it 'DEALERS' involved for any wrongful act.

Goodluck's Adoke team and the Federal Government of Nigeria have once again succeeded in pulling wool over our eyes!'

IF it is true that they are not only protecting the crooks in high places in Nigeria but also deceiving Nigerians as to how much they have MILKED out of Haliburton, then as -
@ Michael Okoroafor RIGHTLY said; "Not only have they insulted Nigerians by agreeing to such a paltry sum, but to lie about the exact figure, in order to escape criticisms from Nigerians, is inexcusable, and aptly captures the contempt our functionaries have for their citizens."

PDP has SCANT REGARD or RESPECT for ANYONE EXCEPT its 'HIGH' officials!

Come 2011, PROTECT YOUR VOTE as NEVER before and DO VOTE for your CONSCIENCE!

Nigeria is a huge joke!!!!!!!!!!

Original Commandments:
1.Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2.Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3.No animal shall wear clothes.
4.No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5.No animal shall drink alcohol.
6.No animal shall kill any other animal.
7.All animals are equal.

Eventually as the pigs become corrupted the laws are revised.
Revised Commandments:
1. "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others"
2."Four legs good, two legs better!"

Original Nigerial law: All Nigerians are equal regardless of tribe, religion, or social status.

Revised Nigerian law:
1.All Nigerians are equal but some Nigerians are more equal than others.
2. Being a Nigerian is good, but being in the PDP, Senate, Judiciary or Executive is better.

As much as this seems to be EFCC's chest beating moment, the golden trap of this magnanimous settlement is that it sets a precedent for Nigeria's corrupt politicians to be sought for arrest and eventual prosecution if they dare step out of their “ wild-wild-west,” lawless Nigeria which they bestrode with impunity.

For instance, God forbids if Atiku wins the Presidency, Nigeria will be sorely embarrassed when its sticky-fingered “President” is arrested at any foreign (UN) event and prosecuted for his money laundering track records, which will make Ibori’s extradition plot look like child’s play. Let the game begin, and Good luck to all.

Last Week I Said It That The Jega Govt. Is Out For Ransom Not Fighting Fraud. They Are After What The Will Get , While The Bonafide Sons And Daughters Of Niger Delta , like DSP ,Ibori, Ibru, Okah, And Co Are Been Sent Aboard For Trial For Peanuts Compared seriously With This VP of USA, You Will Know That Ibori And Others Are Genius ,This Is The Worst Humiliation And Suppress Government Ever In Nigeria, Niger Deltans The Way Your Big Brothers Are Called International Thief Thief And Disgraced, You Will Wake Up One Day And Found That Only Toddlers Are In charge., because of the ambitions of one Man,

After all my salivating?!!! Okay o! God dey sha!

"The plea bargain being negotiated over the $180millon Halliburton bribery scam entered a crucial stage yesterday, with the payment of $130million fines by four of the 15 accused persons and institutions on trial.

The suspects that paid the fines are Halliburton ($35million); ENI ($32.5million); Technip ($30million) and Gasoline Corporation of Japan ($30million).

Halliburton paid its $35 million fine to a dedicated account of the Federal Government yesterday. ENI handed its cheque to the government on Monday."

Source:http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/22442.html

Whereas some say Halliburton's $35 million is inclusive of legal fees, others say it's exclusive of it. If exclusive of legal fees, it'd make a total of $127.5 million plus an extra $2.5 million in legal fees bringing the sum to $130 million. With the guaranteed release of the frozen $120 million bribe money in Swiss banks the cumulative total would be $250 million.

"Saharareporters learnt that the EFCC announcement was intentionally done so that Nigerians would not criticize the paltry sum of settlement we initially reported, especially given the fact that Halliburton and its partners in the TSKJ consortium had paid fines amounting to more than $1 billion dollars to the US government in respect of the same matter."

The above statement is not true either.

"Halliburton pleaded guilty to foreign bribery charges in the United States last year and paid a $402 million criminal fine, the U.S. Justice Department said. KBR and Halliburton also paid $177 million to settle civil complaints related to the bribery, the Justice Department said."

Source:http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/12/21/nigeria.halliburton/index.html

This is about half the quoted sum of more than $1 billion.

Halliburton was not the only firm involved in the bribery scam as SR well knows, and knowing this, it ought to have reflected the breakdown of payments comprehensively for its readership instead of making untenable assertions to deliberately mislead us. Negotiations did not just go on between Halliburton alone but between it and other companies in the TSKJ consortium implicated in the bribery scam.

Former president Obasanjo,in his usual humour said if a thief stole your cow, and you pursue him and he dropped your cow and ran away,you will stop pursuing him and take your cow and go home.
But surprisingly this thief,stole a cow and drop a fowl,so we must still pursue him till he finally drop what he stole

The money paib by Halliburton will also find its way into someone's bank account. What happened to all the loot Obasanjo claims he recovered.

@John Okon Saharareporters wrote an accurate account of what was going down when the EFCC was playing false numbers. See this particular para from their last report:

"Halliburton reportedly reduced its initial offer of $500 million to $30 million, but Nigeria officials at the negotiations have instead on higher figures and are also asking for Halliburton to persuade Swiss authorities to release to Nigeria the $100 million it had frozen as proceeds of crime. An extra $30 million frozen by authorities in Monaco is also expected to be released to the Nigerian authorities if the negotiations work out as planned.
The entire exercise will add $150 million to the coffers of the Nigerian government. Halliburton is also expected to pay legal fees as was those of the victims of the controversial Pfizer's illegal drug test settlements in Kano, Nigeria."

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/negotiation-begins-between-nigeria-...

2011 IS AROUND THE CORNER FOR ALL THE JONATHANS PAID BLOGGERS TO SEE THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS CORRUPT MORON AND HIS TEAM, EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS, NO AGREEMENT COULD BE REACHED WITHOUT BADLUCK JONATHAN'S CONSENT FOR SURE, THIS GOES BEYOND FARIDA WAZIRI, MADAM WAZIRI GETS HER ORDERS FROM PRESIDENCY, SHE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT BY HERSELF.
HAVE YOU HEARD JONATHANS WIFE SPOKEN? SHE TALKS LIKE AN IDIOT FOR A FIRST LADY.

Thanks for providing the breakdown of the settlement, but you missed the point of SR's article and a previous one referenced. Halliburton has revealed to the US media that it is paying $35 million ONLY contrary to $250 million figures bandied around by you.

Shell, ENI, Technip, and others are different entities even if it is the same case. SR's report and several reports available focused on Halliburton and the dropping of charges against Cheney. By your account, the FGN only made $127 million. Why claim $250 million?

2011 IS AROUND THE CORNER FOR ALL THE JONATHANS PAID BLOGGERS TO SEE THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS CORRUPT MORON AND HIS TEAM, EXCATLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS, NO AGREEMENT COULD BE REACHED WITHOUT BADLUCK JONATHAN'S CONSENT FOR SURE, THIS GOES BEYOND FARIDA WAZIRI.

Sahara Reporters must report the full story to remain credible and not report selectively to drive a pre-determined agenda. Please cross check and inform your readers that the payment agreement reached by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is as follows: Halliburton ($35million); ENI ($32.5million); Technip ($30million) and Gasoline Corporation of Japan ($30million). This totals US$127.5 million. Report the facts and let your readers make their conclusions, please!

Well said Carl Kash! Nigerian leaders give westerners the opportunity to treat us still like modern slaves. Fews months to elections and the FG is borrowing billions. I thought GEJ will sanitise the system but he has not done much to put us in a right path of economic growth and jobs creation. We have political stability fine, but where do we go from here. We can't fight corruption with Madam Farida and all these her gimicks.

Mr. Omafume, I appreciate the out pour of this information - I have pondered on some of the facts highlighted, though in a limited capacity. My likes does synchronized with your position on the guber re-run in Delta state, but our party state EXCO does see things in the popular opinion that is fraught with legal loopholes.
Am a member of DPP - organizing secretary of my ward in Warri South LGA, I will use medium to appeal for inundate of information in respect to the re-run and associate matter, to enable me impact on the good people of that ward. My next ward meeting will be on Monday, 27th of December, I beg if you can email fresh dose of information which I will devolve to the ward on our next meeting.
Warm Thanks!
Jeffrey

Well said Carl Kash! Nigerian leaders give westerners to opportunity to treat us still live modern slaves. Fews months to elections and the FG is borrowing billions. I thought GEJ will sanitise the system but he has not done much to put us in a right path of economic growth and job creation. We have political stability fine, but where do we go from here. We can't fight corruption with Madam Farida and all these her gimicks.

This is indeed another test to the entire EFCC.
Who authorizes the settle amount? Why can't they insist to go on trial?
This is not a case for a group of person but for the whole country(Nigeria)
Do we really have strong legal system in Nigeria that ordinary man can depend upon?
The whole country demand answers to this questions as to why we have to settle for this paltry sum.
EFCC will have to answer this.

Yet the same Nigerian Government of today is recruiting UK government to extradite Chief IBORI to London for trial and conviction.

Why not also ask IBORI to settle out of Court?

This is the Foolish Wisdom we display as Nigerians before the rest of the world.

Is there any two different English definition for the word, CORRUPTION, such that the punishment for each culprit, differs?

Comrade IGBINI ODAFE EMMANUEL (ENGR),
(The First and only Nigerian to voluntarily submit to the EFCC and ICPC for probe in July 2006 and Oct. 22, 2010).
2011 Presidential Aspirant, Peoples Redemption Party, (PRP),
Governorship Candidate of Peoples Redemption Party, (PRP), Delta State, April 2007.
Labour Leader, elf Petroleum Nig Ltd (1991 – 1999)
President, National Assoc. of Delta State Post Graduate Students, UNIPORT (2002 – 2006)
National President, Vanguard for Transparent Leadership and Democracy (VATLAD).

It is very unfortunate that INEC will continue to keep Deltans and Nigerians in this unjustified suspense.

What is so special about the Delta State re-run? I know some “optimists” are quick to argue that INEC needs lot more time to conduct a “credible” election in my Delta State so as to convince Nigerians and rest of the world that she is determined and ready to give Nigerians credible general elections come 2011, like never before in our beloved nation, Nigeria.

Frankly, I feel the pains and frustrations of Nigerians who are driven to hope for change through this Prof. Jega’s INEC. But let me state here that nothing has and will change. I am one of the governorship candidates for this re-run election and also one who is well informed about the politics in Delta State. It is still “Business as Usual” with us, (the unrepentant politicians) and our co-conspirators, the (unrepentant INEC officials).

Just imagine INEC’S handling of the controversial issue of who is the rightful governorship candidate of Republican Party of Nigeria (RPN) for the Delta State re-run election. INEC has deliberately decided to create crisis with her decision to simultaneously recognise and invite to her stakeholder meeting with all governorship candidates for the re-run election, the two Deltans laying claims to the governorship ticket of the RPN. Why should this be? Is INEC planning to impose two governorship candidates on RPN ticket for the same election?

As at today, the two contending persons for the RPN’s ticket have officially flagged off campaigns leaving Deltans and eligible voters wondering and confused. A Federal High Court sitting in Asaba had few days ago ordered an Interim Injunction retraining INEC from recognising a faction of the RPN laying claim to the Governorship ticket of the Party and the Case adjourned to January 10, 2011. Now we are being told by the nation newspaper that the election is billed for January 6, 2011. What then happens if at the end of the legal tussle that may run up to Supreme Court, it is held that the restrained governorship candidate was unlawfully excluded from the Election?

Can you imagine that till this day, INEC has not announced the date for the re-run election let alone displayed the list of voters’ register for the re-run Election. Only on February 13, 2010, few days ago, INEC promised us that she will make it available at wards levels. I have since last week formally written INEC requesting for Certified True Copy of the “Voters’ Register” as permitted by Section 16 of the Electoral Act 2006 she intends to use for the re-run election. As I write this comment, today, December 22, 2010, I have not received any response to my request. This is a register that should be available at INEC and easily accessible by any interested “person”. Afterall, INEC says it is this old voters’ register compiled in December 2006 and used for the now annulled April 2007 Election that will be used unedited for the re-run. I totally agree with her on this, though.

Comrade IGBINI ODAFE EMMANUEL (ENGR),
(The First and only Nigerian to voluntarily submit to the EFCC and ICPC for probe in July 2006 and Oct. 22, 2010).
2011 Presidential Aspirant, Peoples Redemption Party, (PRP),
Governorship Candidate of Peoples Redemption Party, (PRP), Delta State, April 2007.
Labour Leader, elf Petroleum Nig Ltd (1991 – 1999)
President, National Assoc. of Delta State Post Graduate Students, UNIPORT (2002 – 2006)
National President, Vanguard for Transparent Leadership and Democracy (VATLAD).

few are eloquent tricksters, many, brutal gangsters and most, confident thugs.

they are sleek, calculating and seemingly gentle, but are irredeemably destructive. They never stops to roam until they can carry out their stealth raid on their victims (the citizenry). Wise nigerians pls don't be deceived by the meekness of those familiar animal that are capable of turning the day's gain into significant loss. Their successes has been remarkable so far.

All the nigerian officials involved in this mockery and sham negotiation should all be investigated but this time around not from nigerian officials but from some foreign law firm which in turn should get 5% of  what they negotiate for us.

Aba! Nigeria politicians and officials you are all called morons and definiately acting like one. Did the idiots not know that in these day and age the rate at which the  truth comes out is faster than that of the speed of light.

All the officials should be charged with treason! Not even a pupil with elementary school experience will settle for such a folly.

The life of the 90% of the citizenry is excruciatingly hard. Extreme poverty is the order of the day even if the scumbags are not good in maths at least they should have asked for a calculator to figure out the difference b/t 30million and 1billion?!

Though i'm not a religious person but  dear Lord (what or who ever that is) the wicked leaders are suffocating the people. Please Lord help us all. God bless the citizens and punish the leaders.