TheCable

Mohammed Adoke, former attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, is said to have directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the alleged $20 million bribery scandal uncovered in Switzerland.

Subsequent to the investigation, the EFCC reportedly said the money might have been consultancy fees.

The outcome of the EFCC investigation was sent to Felix Reinmann, Switzerland’s federal attorney at the time.

The Swiss authorities had in May 2012 implicated some Nigerians in the $20million scandal which involved Dredging International Services (Cyprus) Ltd.

Adebayo Sarumi, a former managing director of the NPA; Felix Ovbude, a former managing director of NPA’s eastern ports, Abba Murtala Mohammed; a former executive director of finance at the NPA, and Daniel Afam-Obi, a former executive assistant to Sullivan Akachukwu Nwankpo, were alleged to have received illicit payments from the company.

According to The Nation, Adoke also wrote to the Swiss authorities, attaching documents that would aid in the investigation of the bribery scandal.

Adoke’s letter reportedly informed the Swiss authorities of the steps taken by the Nigerian government regarding the scandal.

The letter reads thus: “I refer to your letter dated 2nd May 2012, wherein you forwarded a Mutual Legal Assistance request to Nigeria on the above subject matter. The request was brought pursuant to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and the International Law Principle of Reciprocity.

“The documents on further findings of the executing competent authority the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission revealed that the money was paid as consultancy fee to the various recipients.

“The said documents are herein forwarded to you verbatim. Accept please, the assurances of my highest consideration and esteemed regards.”

Dredging International Services was reportedly fined one million Swiss Francs and asked to refund 36 million Swiss Francs worth of illegal profit.