The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro who is also chairman of the five-man inter-agency probe panel set up to probe the Halliburton bribery says his panel will unravel the scam and name Nigerians involved within eight weeks.

Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro

Okiro said: “as a committee, we appreciate the honours given to us by Mr. President for deeming us fit to handle this sensitive case
“We are going to explore all areas that have not been explored in order to expose the identities of Nigerians involved in the Halliburton scandal. We promise that we will do our best to satisfy Nigerians,” the Police chief said.

Okiro spoke in Abuja yesterday at the inauguration of his panel by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN).

On his part however, Chief Aondoakaa said he would not prosecute any Nigerian indicted by the Okiro panel except President Umaru Yar’Adua gave him the go-ahead to so do.

Reminded by newsmen that by virtue of Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution, he can initiate criminal proceedings against any person before any law court in Nigeria in respect of any offence without recourse to anybody, Andoakaa (SAN) agreed, but said his discretion to exercise his prosecutorial powers is, unfortunately, subject to the approval of the President.

He cited Section 130 (1) (2) of the 1999 Constitution as one that limited his discretion to exercise his unlimited prosecutorial powers. The said Section 130 of the 1999 constitution states:

(1) There shall be for the Federation a President.

(2) The President shall be the Head of State, the Chief Executive of the Federation and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation.

A thorough reading of the cited constitutional provision though did not circumscribe, in any clear terms, the discretion of the chief law officer of the Federation to prosecute any person in any law court as claimed by Aondoakaa (SAN), he however laboured yesterday to explain that the addition of “Chief Executive” to the appellation of Mr. President which was absent in the 1979 constitution implied that all ministers serving in his (Mr President’s) cabinet must take instruction from him on anything in their ministries including prosecution of criminals.

We’ll expose culprits in 8 weeks

Inspector-General of Police and Chairman of the probe panel, Mr Mike Okiro who said that the panel would not only place the national interest over and above any individual interest involved in the scandal also said yesterday that many things that were hitherto hidden from Nigerians about the deal would also be exposed.

Okiro said: “As a committee, we appreciate the honours given to us by Mr President for deeming us fit to handle this sensitive case. We know that this case is very important to all Nigerians. We promise to do our best and ensure that justice is done.”

Other members of the panel include the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri and Directors-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), National Security Agency (NSA) and the State Security Service (SSS).
All were present yesterday at the inauguration except the Director-General of NIA.

Govt aware of anger in the land over scam, says Aondoakaa

Chief Aondoakaa however said the government was not unaware of anger in the land over the alleged slow-pace with which the Federal Government was handling the scandal, pleading with Nigerians to exercise more patience.

He explained that the government was not interested in covering up anybody who is corrupt against prosecution but that the rule of law which is the pivotal agenda of the government would not be compromised in the bid to expose and prosecute the identified culprits.
Aondoakaa said the reaction of a section of the country to the convocation of the Okiro panel to the effect that it was not only diversionary but also deceptive, was faulty.

He said if government were to go by the suggestion of the critics by using the list and evidence sourced from anywhere not recognised by law, the government would find it difficult to secure the conviction of the identified culprits, if taken to courts.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN)

His words:  “Let me start by stating that the Halliburton Bribery Scandal has attracted the attention of Nigerians worldwide who are daily yearning for a corruption-free society. I wish to state that the widespread anger and condemnation which the scandal has generated among Nigerians is justified because transnational corporations such as Halliburton that masterminded the scheme to bribe Nigerians are expected to observe the highest ethical standards in their operations at home.

“The Nigerian Government is therefore quite disappointed that the war against corruption being waged relentlessly by this administration is being sabotaged by the activities of some transnational corporations who are under a duty to prevent bad business practices such as the offering of bribes and other forms of inducements to gain business advantage.

“Government is equally disappointed at the Nigerians that have allowed themselves to be used by Halliburton in this nefarious scheme to violate our laws and they also deserve to be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians for the part they played in this saga. This is why it is important for their identities to be unveiled as soon as possible.

“We have also noted that the desire to unmask those implicated in the bribery scandal has been so strong that a lot of Nigerians understandably have become impatient with the due process of law, preferring the adoption of other informal or unorthodox means to achieve this goal.

“Let me assure you all that this administration will not condone corruption in any form and will therefore not shield anyone found culpable in the bribery scandal. Be that as it may, I am also conscious of my duty to all Nigerians and the need to ensure that due process reigns supreme in all governmental actions. This explains the reason why we commenced action by putting up a request for Mutual Legal Assistance to the U.S. Attorney General in order to access the relevant court records. The process is on-going but we are optimistic that the desired results will be achieved.

“Thus, contrary to the views expressed by a cross section of Nigerians on the desirability or otherwise of constituting this Investigation Committee principally to unravel the names of Nigerians implicated in the Halliburton Bribery Scandal, it is my belief that obtaining such information from the proper source is important if we are to rely on it as a basis for instituting any criminal action against those involved.

Furthermore, as will become evident from the terms of reference, the Committee is expected to do much more than unravel the names of Nigerians implicated in the bribery scandal.

“This is the rationale for Mr. President’s approval that this Investigation Committee comprising of representatives of all our security agencies and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission be constituted under the Chairmanship of the Inspector-General of Police.

“The high calibre of the membership of the Committee is reflective of the leadership qualities of the respective heads of these agencies and a testimony of the seriousness which government attaches to this issue. I am therefore sure that they will do a good job,” he added.

Andoakaa (SAN) who said that the expatriates who collaborated with the Nigerians involved might also face prosecution.

Terms of reference

He gave the terms of reference of the Committee as follows:

*To examine the circumstances surrounding the Halliburton Bribery Scandal in the Bonny Liquefied Natural Gas Project;
*To liaise with appropriate agencies within and outside Nigeria to ensure disclosure of the names of Nigerians involved /implicated in the Halliburton Bribery Scandal;

*To establish the extent of involvement or culpability of any Nigerian in the bribery scandal and the sums of money allegedly paid out to any person in Nigerian by Halliburton as bribes in respect of the Bonny LNG Project, and

*To liaise with the Swiss authorities with a view to tracing and recovering any sums stashed in Swiss banks for the benefit of those involved in the Bonny Liquefied Natural Gas Project bribery scandal.