Scandal used to undermine Atiku
Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:00 pm
Lagos, Nigeria - A bribery scandal in the United States is being used to try to undermine Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a spokesperson for the politician charged on Thursday.
"The rumour industry in this country is fed by the federal government - they want the FBI issue sustained in public, that he is under investigation, which he is not, or that he could be liable to United States laws," said Garba Shehu, a spokesperson for Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Abubakar had a public falling out with Obasanjo last year. Osita Nwajah, a spokesperson for the government's anti-corruption watchdog, often accused of harassing President Olusegun Obasanjo's rivals, declined comment on the allegations or on whether his organisation was investigating Abubakar in connection with the US scandal.
US Representative William Jefferson is suspected of receiving $100 000 (about R700 000) last July to be used to bribe Abubakar to ensure the success of a business deal in Nigeria, according to US investigators' documents. The money was never passed to Abubakar and both he and Jefferson deny any wrongdoing.
For more than a year, US investigators have been looking into whether the congressman promoted the sale of telecommunications equipment and services to Nigeria and other African countries in exchange for stock and cash.
Abubakar is running for president in next year's election. Obasanjo is barred by the constitution from seeking a third term and has not anointed a successor. His supporters tried and failed earlier this year to change the constitution to allow him to run again.
Obasanjo has targeted corruption since winning office in 1999. He has been credited with some success, in part because of the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission three years ago. However, critics often charge argue that the watchdog commission is used to target perceived enemies of the president.
Shehu, the vice president's spokesperson, claimed that a supporter in government had seen FBI records allegedly requested by the federal government, and that they proved the vice president was innocent of any wrongdoing in the Jefferson affair.
Bill Carter, a spokesperson for the FBI, said he could not comment on whether the Nigerian government had requested any information in the case.
The Nigerian government has asked for outside help in the past in its war on corruption. The United Kingdom has twice arrested state governors accused of corruption at the request of the Nigerian government.
International intervention was necessary because sitting governors have immunity from prosecution in Nigeria, a privilege that extends to both the president and vice president.
Sapa-AP
"The rumour industry in this country is fed by the federal government - they want the FBI issue sustained in public, that he is under investigation, which he is not, or that he could be liable to United States laws," said Garba Shehu, a spokesperson for Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Abubakar had a public falling out with Obasanjo last year. Osita Nwajah, a spokesperson for the government's anti-corruption watchdog, often accused of harassing President Olusegun Obasanjo's rivals, declined comment on the allegations or on whether his organisation was investigating Abubakar in connection with the US scandal.
US Representative William Jefferson is suspected of receiving $100 000 (about R700 000) last July to be used to bribe Abubakar to ensure the success of a business deal in Nigeria, according to US investigators' documents. The money was never passed to Abubakar and both he and Jefferson deny any wrongdoing.
For more than a year, US investigators have been looking into whether the congressman promoted the sale of telecommunications equipment and services to Nigeria and other African countries in exchange for stock and cash.
Abubakar is running for president in next year's election. Obasanjo is barred by the constitution from seeking a third term and has not anointed a successor. His supporters tried and failed earlier this year to change the constitution to allow him to run again.
Obasanjo has targeted corruption since winning office in 1999. He has been credited with some success, in part because of the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission three years ago. However, critics often charge argue that the watchdog commission is used to target perceived enemies of the president.
Shehu, the vice president's spokesperson, claimed that a supporter in government had seen FBI records allegedly requested by the federal government, and that they proved the vice president was innocent of any wrongdoing in the Jefferson affair.
Bill Carter, a spokesperson for the FBI, said he could not comment on whether the Nigerian government had requested any information in the case.
The Nigerian government has asked for outside help in the past in its war on corruption. The United Kingdom has twice arrested state governors accused of corruption at the request of the Nigerian government.
International intervention was necessary because sitting governors have immunity from prosecution in Nigeria, a privilege that extends to both the president and vice president.
Sapa-AP