Halliburton Scandal: EFCC Puts Another SAN On Hot Seat

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday interrogated a senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Obla, on his role and that of four others in negotiating plea deals for companies indicted in the Halliburton bribery scandal.

The other affected lawyers are – a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), J. B. Daudu (SAN); Damian D. Dodo (SAN); E.C. Ukala (SAN); and Roland Ewubare.

The EFCC had been tracking the whereabouts of the $200million (N66billion) penalty fines paid by five companies involved in the scandal.

The companies are Julius Berger, Siemens, Japan Gasoline Corporation, Halliburton Energy Services and Snamprogetti.

The companies made the following remittances: Julius Berger ($35m); Siemens (Euros 30m); Snamprogetti ($30m); Halliburton ($32,500,000) and JGC ($26, 500,000).

It was learnt that the EFCC may also ask the senior lawyers who handled the settlement agreement to account for about $12million (N3.960billion) they collected as “legal fees”.

EFCC investigations revealed that Obla was invited for allegedly coordinating settlement terms and agreement with Siemens.