– About $32.5million recovered from the Halliburton scandal has been declared missing
– The EFCC reportedly raised the alarm over the issue on Wednesday
– An EFCC source disclosed that there was an ongoing investigation into the matter and the suspects will be charged to court
About $32.5million (N13,585,000, 000) recovered in the controversial out-of-court settlement of the Halliburton scam has been reportedly declared missing from the government’s coffers.
Leadership reports that the money was part of the over $180million recovered by five senior lawyers for the federal government, following negotiations and out-of-court settlement on the widely publicized Halliburton, Siemens, Samprogetti and Japan Gasoline scams.
The anti-graft agency which raised the alarm over the missing money on Wednesday, August 31, said investigation in the matter had reached an advanced stage, and that those indicted would soon be charged to court.
READ ALSO: N81.4bn Halliburton bribery “used for presidential helicopter”
An EFCC source, who pleaded anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter, said: “We are unable to locate the said $32.5million at the CBN and the Office of Accountant General of the Federation even though the said amount was purportedly paid into the federal government’s account.
“We suspect a conspiracy in this matter as so many people were involved. But I can tell you authoritatively that investigation has reached an advanced stage. Once investigation is concluded, the suspects will be charged to court.”
On December 11, 2010, the federal government entered into an agreement to settle the Halliburton scam out of court in exchange for ex-gratia payment of the said $32.5million.
The former attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), hired five senior lawyers, for the negotiation.
The lawyers on the negotiation team were the former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu (SAN), Damien Dodo (SAN), Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), Godwin Obla (SAN) and Rowland Ewubare.
READ ALSO: Halliburton scandal: Between governor Fayose and Aisha Buhari
Report has it that the five lawyers have already been invited by the commission to determine their involvement and they have made useful statements on the matter.
The Nation reports that EFCC detectives discovered that the missing $32.5million was transferred by Halliburton into FGN JP Morgan Chase New York Swift BIC Code CHASUS 33, Account No. 000742501406865.
A top source said: “Out of over $200million fines paid, about $32.5million is missing. Our team only succeeded in tracing the transfer of the cash into an account in New York but there is no record of whether or not it was remitted into the federal government consolidated account. We have raised issues on why the money was paid into a private account which led to the deduction of about 3.5% for some services.
“When we confronted a top official of NNPC, Roland Ewubare(who was at the time of the agreement the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission), he said $20million out of the $32.5million was remitted into the federal government account. We are yet to confirm this transfer because there are no records.”
In his statement before the EFCC, Ewubare claimed that he paid N2.8 billion to the federal government from his own share.
It was gathered that the details of the account provided by the federal government for the ex-gratia payment had issues which prompted Ewubare to furnish Halliburton with an escrow account number to enable the firm pay into it.
READ ALSO: Halliburton: 24 allegations the FBI asked EFCC to investigate [LIST]
He has been given up to September 15 to submit a letter authorising him by the federal government to open the private escrow account.
On his part, Dodo faulted the propriety of the allegation, saying it is unfounded.
In his statement before the EFCC, he said, “I deny the allegation in its entirety. It is totally baseless, false, wicked and malicious.
“I affirm that the legal fees paid to legal team comprising J. B. Daudu (SAN), E. C. Ukala (SAN), Godwin Obla (SAN), Rowland Ewubare and myself were legitimate fees for all the work and negotiations that helped the federal government to recover over $180million.”
About five companies involved in the $180million Halliburton bribery scam are said to have paid fines in line with a Settlement Agreement with the federal government .
The breakdown of the remittances by the five companies is as follows: Julius Berger ($35m); Siemens (Euros 30m); Snamprogetti ($30m); Halliburton Energy Services ($32,500,000); and Japan Gasoline Corporation ($26, 500,000).
Recent report alleged that $200m (N81.4billion) fines paid by five companies involved in the Halliburton scandal were blown on the purchase of a security helicopter for ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Leave a Reply