The Nigerian government has ordered an investigation into claims that an agent of the American oil company Halliburton paid bribes to secure a contract. According to a spokesperson for President Olusegun Obasanjo, the order was given on Friday to demonstrate his seriousness in combating corruption. Kellogg, Brown and Root, an agent of Halliburton, is accused of paying $180 million in bribes to Nigerian officials in the late 1990s to obtain a natural gas extraction contract. At that time, Dick Cheney, the current Vice President of the United States, was the head of Halliburton. Earlier in the week, the U.S. Department of Justice revealed that it had begun investigations into the bribery allegations. A spokesperson for Halliburton stated that the company is cooperating with the investigations, but asserted that there is no reason to believe that company officials violated U.S. laws. Under the law, commercial companies are prohibited from bribing foreign officials.
Investigation into Allegations of Bribery in Nigeria - 2004-02-07
The Nigerian government is investigating allegations that Halliburton's agent bribed officials to secure a contract worth $180 million in the late 1990s. This investigation follows a recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Justice regarding similar allegations. The involvement of high-profile figures like Dick Cheney raises significant concerns about corruption in international business dealings.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Nigerian government is investigating allegations that Halliburton's agent paid $180 million in bribes to secure a natural gas contract. The U.S. Department of Justice is also investigating these claims.
- The bribery allegedly occurred in the late 1990s.
- Dick Cheney was the head of Halliburton during the time of the alleged bribery.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Halliburton is a major player in the global oil industry, and allegations of corruption can have widespread implications for international business practices. Nigeria's history of corruption in its oil sector has been a significant barrier to development.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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