Nigeria has filed charges against Dick Cheney, over bribery allegations involving a former subsidy of Halliburton energy company. The charges, filed by Nigeria's anti-corruption agency, revolve around KBR engineering firm, which has admitted bribing officials.
Cheney, former CEO of Halliburton and US vice president, denies the allegations which his lawyer called “entirely baseless”. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed 16 charges against Cheney, as well as current Halliburton CEO David Lesar and two other executives. It has also filed charges against Halliburton and four associated businesses.
Last year, KBR pleaded guilty to paying $180 million in bribes to Nigerian officials. The company agreed to pay $579 million in fines in the US. Nigeria, along with France and Switzerland, has conducted its own investigation into the case and subsequently filed charges.
Cheney's lawyer, Terence O'Donnell, said US investigators had found no impropriety on Cheney's part and added that, "Any suggestion of misconduct on his part, made now, years later, is entirely baseless". Halliburton denies involvement in the allegations, saying that a raid on its office by EFCC officials was "an affront against justice".
Source: BBC News
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