Halliburton Bribery Scandal: Panel Shuns US, Heads For Switzerland

Chris Agbambu, Abuja - 20.06.2009

Following the shunning of the Mike Okiro Panel on the $190 million Halliburton bribery scandal by the American government, the panel is now looking elsewhere.

Informed Saturday Tribune sources disclosed that all entreaties made to the US security agencies to assist the panel on some vital information in the investigation were rebuffed.

The source said that the panel, which ought to have concluded its investigation this week, might have sought for extension to enable it travel to Switzerland where some vital documents could be obtained to help them in their investigation.

The panel was given eight weeks to complete its assignment, but the source revealed that it was no longer feasible as some important aspects of the investigations were yet to be concluded.

The source said that some banks in Switzerland were used to siphon the money, while the coded figure used in the transactions will be decoded in that country.

Saturday Tribune gathered that in spite of the number of big shots that have been interrogated in connection with the scandal, not much has been achieved, as the source said that virtually, all of those interrogated are being economical with the truth.

“In spite of us detaining some powerful former government functionaries for weeks, they refused to bulge, but I can assure you that they will be shocked at the end of the day with our findings,” the source said.

However, further investigation into the scandal revealed that the panel had done a very extensive investigation into the matter.

The panel had earlier detained a former chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal A.D. Bello; the brother to the Niger State governor, Ibrahim Aliyu; former NNPC Group Managing Director, Gaius Obaseki; while a number of them were interrogated and released, such as former NNPC GMD, Funsho Kupolokun and former Minister of Petroleum, Dan Etete.

Saturday Tribune further gathered that the former Heads of State who were implicated in the scandal would be formally invited for interrogation after the panel’s return from Switzerland, where their level of involvement will be ascertained.