Wednesday 19 December 2012

Halliburton bribe scandal: US angry with FG

THE United States government is not happy with the way the Halliburton bribe scandal was handled by the Federal Government, though it said it is assisting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to do self investigation.
While  expressing displeasure, the United States accused the Federal Government of not doing enough in the fight against corruption and cited the case of the former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, who was acquitted in Nigeria but found guilty in the United Kingdom.
International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Officer in the United States, Kohn Diane, told journalists at the US Embassy in Abuja, on Tuesday, that the fact that the company involved in the scandal was punished abroad, while local beneficiaries were left off the hook raised questions against Nigeria.
Ms Diane admitted that corruption was a global issue, but argued that it went beyond exchange of money to include abuse of trusted power for private gains.
She made case  for proper funding of  security agencies and continuous training of judges and prosecutors, which she noted the United States would assist Nigeria to achieve.
She further maintained that the United States would continue to assist Nigeria with funds to combat terrorism financing and other forms of fraud, while the EFCC would continue to receive assistance on its investigation of fraud cases.

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