NIGERIA/FILE: Anti-corruption agency files charges against former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and head of oil services giant Halliburton Co

Record ID: 238142

  • Title: NIGERIA/FILE: Anti-corruption agency files charges against former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and head of oil services giant Halliburton Co
  • Date: 9th December 2010
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF NEWSPAPER HEADLINES ON EFCC DECISION TO CHARGE FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY MAN READING NEWSPAPER
  • Embargoed: 24th December 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria, Usa
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA8VPHPZJCI4JTB5HL3RO38G1DT
  • Story Text: Former U.S. vice president Dick Cheney and the head of oil services giant Halliburton Co are facing charges over an alleged scheme to bribe Nigerian officials.
    Nigeria's anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), filed 16 charges at a federal high court in Abuja against Cheney, Halliburton Chief Executive David Lesar and two other executives, in a case dating back to the mid-1990s.
    The EFCC also filed charges against Halliburton as a company and four associated businesses.
    Cheney, who was U.S. vice president from 2001 to 2009, headed Halliburton in the 1990s.
    At the Federal High Court in Lagos, a cross section of lawyers shared their views on the news of the charges which made headlines in many of the national daily newspapers on Wednesday morning.
    "Before they decided to pick on the guy that was charged they must have done their investigations and he was the one found to have been implicated by their investigations. that is my candid opinion, so there is nothing strange in inviting Cheney to come and answer whether he is culpable or not," said Olumuyiwa Aduroja Uloma Emenyonu agreed and said: "I think It is a very, very bold step on their part. I think it shows that they actually are not very scared of going after foreigners, so to speak, like we had the feeling that they would be before now, but the issue is if only they could be that bold with every other politician in Nigeria, not only those who, quote and unquote, might have or seem to have fallen out with the government or something like that."
    Another lawyer, Imma Okochua, was skeptical about the anti-corruption crusade being carried out by the EFCC and the Nigerian government.
    "My opinion is that it is part of our national hypocrisy. There are several reports that have indicted even past heads of states, ministers and the rest of them, who are easy, who are available within jurisdiction. We don't need any international warrant or process - nothing apart from some low level mignions that they have laid hands on, they have left all those, they are just seeking for attention. It is a part of a scheme to embarrass, it might even be political," said Okochua.
    Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wole Olanipekun, who admits he can't jump into any conclusion without being presented with court documents, says this only leaves him with more questions begging for answers.
    "If there is a U.S. court charging a former Vice President of Nigeria who is resident in Nigeria, I will ask myself: How is that going to be done? Then I want to be convinced how they want to do it? The processes, the procedures. It's new, it's novel," said Olanipekun.
    Some analysts have suggested the sudden revival of interest in the Halliburton case is linked to Nigerian politics.
    Nigeria will hold a presidential election in April. Incumbent Goodluck Jonathan faces a challenge for the ruling party nomination from former vice president Atiku Abubakar, who was in office between 1999 and 2007.
    Abubakar's opponents have in the past tried to link him to the Halliburton case, allegations he has dismissed as a smear campaign.
    Questions none
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