Dick Cheney Nigeria Bribery Charges Could Be Dropped For Fine

Former Vice President Dick Cheney, who has been charged with bribery by Nigeria's anti-corruption agency, may avoid the charges if Halliburton instead pays a hefty fine, reports Reuters. Nigeria is considering a deal in which the energy company would pay $250 million in lieu of prosecution.

Femi Babafemi, a spokesman for the anti-corruption agency, said that the sum would include $130 million frozen in Switzerland, with the rest paid in fines, reports Reuters.

In order for the deal to move forward, it must be approved by Nigeria's government. Global Post reported earlier that both sides were considering a plea bargain, with estimates originally running as high as $500 million. Without the deal, Cheney and other executives could face "sentences of three years in a Nigerian prison if convicted of the charges in the 16-count indictment."

The charges stem from an alleged bribery case concerning up to $180 million paid in bribes to Nigerian officials. According to the AP, Halliburton allegedly paid the bribes to win $6 billion worth of contracts in the oil producing West African nation. Cheney was CEO of the company during the time of the alleged bribery.

KBR, a former subsidiary of Halliburton, resolved its own Nigerian bribery charges by paying a fine. The AP reports:

The Halliburton case involves its former subsidiary KBR, a major engineering and construction services firm based in Houston. In February 2009, KBR Inc. pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to authorizing and paying bribes from 1995 to 2004 for the plant contracts in Nigeria.

KBR, which split from Halliburton in 2007, agreed to pay more than $400 million in fines in the plea deal.

Cheney's lawyer has said there is no reason for the charges. According to CNN:

Cheney's atttorney has said that there is no reason to suspect that his client is guilty.

"This matter involves the activities of an international four-company joint venture (which included KBR, then a subsidiary of Halliburton) well over a decade ago," Terrence O'Connell said.

Comments

[BigAbner]

11:46 PM on 01/05/2011

"This matter involves the activities of an international four-company joint venture (which included KBR, then a subsidiary of Halliburton) well over a decade ago," Terrence O'Connell said.

Yeah, that was KBR's lawyer explaining that the whole matter was silly and a matter of mistaken identity.WOW! Well, you didn't SAY that, did you? That makes all the difference in the world!

NOT! NOT! Disgraceful corporate Crime on an international scale. If Cheney was in charge during that time, and the offenses took place at that time, then you can bet the farm that CHENEY not only knew about it, HE ORDERED AND DIRECTED IT!

Dick Cheney, Bona Fide International CROOK and OGRE!

Brick

[akmivida]

02:28 AM on 12/18/2010

Sounds like extortion rather then Justice. Perhaps this is proof the present Nigerian Government is as corrupt as past. Too bad if the Nigerians take the cash. Americans don't have the guts or glory to prosecute their own domestic executive branch criminals. America the Free. Hah!

Good thing for the middle east, keep our forces overseas while Bush and Cheney Hijack the country and the constitution. The US needs to prosecute the Bush administration to show no man is above the law. Indict Bush and Cheney Now!

[contest d]

11:17 PM on 12/17/2010

Shell and Pfizer executives must be breathing a sigh of relief with this news.

[my2pesos]

11:15 AM on 12/16/2010

Where are the idi0ts voted for this piece of shiatsu now?

[skykam]

10:58 AM on 12/16/2010

LAGOS, NIGERIA.

ATTENTION: THE VICE PRESIDENT/CEO

DEAR SIR,

CONFIDENTIAL PROPOSAL

HAVING CONSULTED WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND BASED ON THE INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE NIGERIAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO REQUEST FOR YOUR PARDON TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF $500,000,000.00 (FIVE HUNDRED MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) INTO OUR ACCOUNTS. THE ABOVE SUM RESULTED FROM AN OVER-INVOICED CONTRACT, EXECUTED COMMISSIONED AND PAID FOR BY A FOREIGN CONTRACTOR.

WE ARE NOW READY TO TRANSFER THE FUND OVERSEAS AND THAT IS WHERE YOU COME IN. IT IS IMPORTANT TO INFORM YOU THAT AS CIVIL SERVANTS, WE ARE FORBIDDEN TO OPERATE A FOREIGN ACCOUNT; THAT IS WHY WE REQUIRE YOUR ASSISTANCE. THE TOTAL SUM WILL BE SHARED AS FOLLOWS: 70% FOR US, 25% FOR YOU AND 5% FOR LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPENSES INCIDENT TO THE TRANSFER.

THE TRANSFER IS RISK FREE ON BOTH SIDES. I AM AN ACCOUNTANT WITH THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC). IF YOU FIND THIS PROPOSAL ACCEPTABLE, WE SHALL REQUIRE THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS:

(A) YOUR BANKER'S NAME, TELEPHONE, ACCOUNT AND FAX NUMBERS.

(B) YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS -- FOR CONFIDENTIALITY AND EASY COMMUNICATION.

(C) YOUR LETTER-HEADED PAPER STAMPED AND SIGNED.

ALTERNATIVELY WE WILL FURNISH YOU WITH A BREAKDOWN EXPLAINING, COMPREHENSIVELY WHAT WE REQUIRE OF YOU. THE BUSINESS WILL TAKE US THIRTY (30) WORKING DAYS TO ACCOMPLISH.

PLEASE REPLY URGENTLY.

BEST REGARDS

[Cratewasher]

10:55 AM on 12/16/2010

One good bribe deserves another.

[dax49]

10:36 AM on 12/16/2010

When is this "man" going to have to pay for his crimes?

[ColoradoCool]

04:50 PM on 12/17/2010

I think never. He's insulated by the very things he used to commit his crimes - his money and his power. In this country, the poor go to jail and the rich get a pass. Better yet, they get obscenely huge tax breaks. Contemptible!

[mariusvinchi]

01:47 AM on 12/16/2010

Laughable...Then again, the Nigerian government is well aware that the chances of actually extraditing Cheney to Lagos is equal to my chances of getting a date with Natalie Portman! Translation...Even if Nigerian prosecutors had video of Cheney handing over the cash, it would never happen. They seem to have forgotten the golden rule in American foreign policy (read American Exceptionalism). We arrest and prosecute OTHER world leaders, but never hold our own (nor allow anyone else to either) responsible for anything (like shooting someone in the freaking face!).

[dax49]

10:37 AM on 12/16/2010

Yeah, but if they with-hold oil from haliburton, they will turn cheney in in a heartbeat- criminals have no loyalty to each other!

[CPAwADD]

12:25 AM on 12/16/2010

Shouldn't they have a Dept. of Irony to run these things by first?

[Kenneth Wells]

11:10 PM on 12/15/2010

this is just another symptom of the larger problem kleptocracy. From the report I read from the Guardian H.G. Bush and James Baker interceded on his behalf. (negotiated the 2nd bribe) in a plea agreement. These Robber Barons have not changed. The Balance will occur when we quit letting career politicians run this country. The justice department can still pursue a indictment since a plea bargain denotes guilt he still broke the laws of this country.

[truthisneeded]

08:32 PM on 12/15/2010

"Nigeria to drop Dick Cheney charges after plea bargain

Halliburton agrees to pay $250m in fines in lieu of prosecution over alleged multimillion-dollar bribes"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/15/nigeria-dick-cheney-plea-halliburton

[Charles Richard Brown]

08:37 PM on 12/15/2010

Yes... justice for sale... that's the American way!

[Oilygarch]

09:14 AM on 12/16/2010

Isn't that what settling out of court is all about?

[shylove2]

07:45 PM on 12/15/2010

I'd say hold out for 500 million... what should we fine Cheney for the Iraq war?

[nicholasb]

06:37 PM on 12/15/2010

I liked HP's main lead-in headline on the front page best: "Nigeria Could Drop Cheney Bribery Charges For $250 Million". Figured that meant Dick was going to pay Nigeria the $250 mil thru his offshore account for dropping those charges.

[My name is too common]

03:09 PM on 12/15/2010

He belongs in prison.

If western justice is too impotent to make that happen, then maybe the people should take up a collection, and present Nigeria a matching offer to KEEP him.

[hieagle]

01:40 PM on 12/15/2010

What's important... is that he and dubya need to fry, before they die natural deaths...!