Dick Cheney faces bribery scandal charges in Nigeria

[EnglishLady]

.Nigeria's anti-corruption agency is to charge former US Vice-President Dick Cheney over a bribery scandal that involves a former subsidiary of energy firm Halliburton.

The case centres on engineering firm KBR, which admitted bribing officials.

A lawyer for Mr Cheney said allegations he was involved in the scandal were "entirely baseless".

Mr Cheney was Halliburton's chief executive before becoming vice-president to George W Bush in 2001.

A spokesman for the anti-corruption agency, Femi Babafemi, said the charges were likely to be brought against Mr Cheney next week.

Mr Babafemi said the charges were "not unconnected to his role as the chief executive of Halliburton".

KBR last year pleaded guilty to paying $180m (£115m) in bribes to Nigerian officials prior to 2007, when it was a subsidiary of Halliburton. The firm agreed to pay $579m (£372m) in fines related to the case in the US.

But Nigeria, along with France and Switzerland, has conducted its own investigations into the case.

Mr Cheney's lawyer, Terence O'Donnell, said US investigators had "found no suggestion of any impropriety by Dick Cheney in his role of CEO of Halliburton".

"Any suggestion of misconduct on his part, made now, years later, is entirely baseless," Mr O'Donnell said.

The bribes concerned the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in southern Nigeria.

KBR and Halliburton have now split, and Halliburton says it is not connected with the case against KBR.

Halliburton denies involvement in the allegations.

It has complained that a raid on its office last week by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officials was "an affront against justice".

Ten people were detained for questioning and later released.

A prosecutor quoted by the Agence France-Presse news agency said those charged would include former and current leaders of Halliburton and officials from firms in a consortium involved in the LNG plant.

Nigeria is a member of the oil cartel Opec and is one of the world's biggest oil exporters.

 

[RLENT]

A lawyer for Mr Cheney said allegations he was involved in the scandal were "entirely baseless".

But Nigeria, along with France and Switzerland, has conducted its own investigations into the case.

Mr Cheney's lawyer, Terence O'Donnell, said US investigators had "found no suggestion of any impropriety by Dick Cheney in his role of CEO of Halliburton".

Oh yeah, absolutely .... can't trust them incompetent Nigerians .... and I'm real sure that our US investigators - who couldn't possibly have any vested interest in the outcome of the investigation of a major political figure like Cheney - will do a bang up job and doggedly track down every lead ....

"Any suggestion of misconduct on his part, made now, years later, is entirely baseless," Mr O'Donnell said.

Right ..... it's clearly the time thing:

"You waited too long .... and so now, it's entirely baseless ....."

Halliburton denies involvement in the allegations.

It has complained that a raid on its office last week by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officials was "an affront against justice".

How dare they actually look for evidence of crimes ..... in, of all things, a US corporation !

I'm just thoroughly disgusted by these utterly arrogant Nigerians ..... maybe we just ought to nuke them off the face of the planet ....

That would sure teach 'em ....

 

[Turtle]

Oh yeah, absolutely .... can't trust them incompetent Nigerians .... and I'm real sure that our US investigators - who couldn't possibly have any vested interest in the outcome of the investigation of a major political figure like Cheney - will do a bang up job and doggedly track down every lead ....

Not to worry. Word is that Hugo Llorens is heading up the investigation.

 

[RLENT]

Hmmmm .... kinda sounds like "bringing something in from another thread ....."

(But I appreciate the attempt at humor ..... )

BTW - How's that 7 plate, continental thing workin' out for ya ?

 

[Turtle]

Well, yeah, "bringing something in from another thread ....." not to attack, but for the expressed purpose of humor. That's a big difference. Unlike doing it for an ad hominem attack, humor dragged in rarely causes a thread to degenerate to the sticking out of tongues and food fights.

The 7 plate thing is still holding at 7 plates, and Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.

 

[skyraider]

I know this investigation is the talk of all us expediters down here in Laredo this morning and many of us are distraught over it. Some drivers have even gone to the local hospital with heart palpitations and irregular breathing and some were flown out to Dallas General Hospital for further testing on their condition. The local sea and rescue helicopters are now airborne searching for others along I 35 as I type. The flying J and the T/A hve both closed over this do to the increase of disturbed drivers and their mental status, I will keep all of u informed as this trend continues...................Ps, I have 3 cases of Valiums for severe trauma..............

 

[RLENT]

Well, yeah, "bringing something in from another thread ....." not to attack, but for the expressed purpose of humor. That's a big difference.

Not only humor, but a bit of a barb .... a dig, if you will .... as well ...

Unlike doing it for an ad hominem attack, humor dragged in rarely causes a thread to degenerate to the sticking out of tongues and food fights.

True ....

I think I now understand:

"The principle matters not, for it is only the end that truly matters, and not the means that one uses to get there ......"

 

[Turtle]

Not only humor, but a bit of a barb .... a dig, if you will .... as well ...

That's the humor. Just thought I'd (subtly) point out a little irony. Couldn't pass that one up.

"The principle matters not, for it is only the end that truly matters, and not the means that one uses to get there ......"

That's a quote from Assange, isn't it?