President Muhammadu Buhari has tactically dropped the probing of the $6billion
Oil scam involving the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas(NLGN) project in Bonny, Rivers State.
A 2010 Nigerian government document on the bribery scandal reportedly included three Nigerian presidents, a vice-president, a minister, intelligence chiefs and corporate titans in a list of bribery beneficiaries.
Those whose names have being mentioned that received bribes include former military head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, his then chief of staff, Major-General Chris Garba (rtd), his wife, Rita, and Andrew Agom, a senior government official who is late.
The bribe was reportedly given to the officials by a Britisha lawyer, Jeffrey Tesler,who served as the middle man between Halliburton and Nigerian officials who were responsible for approving the $6 billion contract for NLNG, in what has been described as probably the biggest scandal in Nigeria’s history.
However the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to Buhari, Femi Adesina, says the president will limit his anti-corruption war to the immediate past administration in the country.
He said Buhari will not waste time in probing the administrations of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalam Abubakar, Sani Abacha and Ibrahim Babangida.
He said even before he was sworn in to office on May 29, the president had categorically stated that he would not extend his corruption probe beyond the Jonathan government.
“If you recall, that was already settled before he got inaugurated as president. He has said he will not waste time digging into the far past,” Mr. Adesina said.
“The far past will includes Obasanjo and others. But the president has said he will not waste time to go that far.”
It will be recalled that before leaving office, former President Jonathan had said any probe by the new government would be seen as a “witch hunt” if it fails to go beyond his administration.