Information reaching Greenbarge Reporters has indicated that five senior lawyers have been invited by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for questioning in regard to the missing of about $32.5 million recovered from the Halliburton scam.
The five lawyers were said to have been hired by the former attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) in negotiations and out-of-court settlement on the widely publicized scams – Halliburton, Siemens, Samprogetti and Japan Gasoline issues.
They were led by the former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Joseph Daudu (SAN) with Damien Dodo (SAN), Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), Godwin Obla (SAN) and Rowland Ewubare as members of the negotiating team.
Sources at the EFCC said that they were being questioned to determine their involvement and that they had made useful statements to the agency on the matter.
The federal government had on December 11, 2010, entered into an agreement to settle the Halliburton scam out of court in exchange for ex-gratia payment of the said $32.5 million.
The allegedly missing $32.5 million was part of the over $180 million recovered by five senior lawyers for the federal government.
The sources said: “we are unable to locate the said $32.5 million 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.” [myad]
