Halliburton Says Officials Spoke of Nigeria Bribes

[UpInArms]

http://www.reuters.com/financeNewsArticle.jhtml?type=businessNews&storyID=6134146

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Halliburton Co., once run by Vice President Dick Cheney, said an internal probe found information suggesting that members of a consortium it helps lead considered bribing Nigerian officials to win business.

The world's No. 2 oilfield services company, which is also fighting accusations it overcharged on contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan, said late on Wednesday the probe concerns the multibillion dollar TSKJ Bonny Island liquefied natural gas plant project.

Talks of bribes took place at least 10 years ago, it said. Cheney was Halliburton's chief executive from 1995 to 2000.

<snip>

Halliburton said it hasn't found evidence that officials from the TSKJ consortium ever made payments. But it said the consortium entered into several "agency agreements" related to the project, beginning in 1995.

<snip>

In a statement, the company said the new information "appears to relate to conduct that took place almost entirely" before its 1998 purchase of Dresser Industries Inc., whose M.W. Kellogg unit was part of the consortium.

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hmmm.... "at least 10 years ago" would put it 1994 or before, then the article goes on to say "beginning in 1995" and then "before its 1998 purchase" - doesn't that appear to be when FU-Cheney was in charge?

[UpInArms]

1. related article: Nigeria Bars Halliburton

http://www.smartmoney.com/bn/ON/index.cfm?story=ON-20040902-000381-0844

LAGOS -(Dow Jones)- Nigeria's House of Representatives has barred Halliburton Co. (HAL) and the TSKJ consortium from being awarded new Nigerian oil contracts, pending the conclusion of investigations into the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas bribery scandal, the Nigerian Guardian reported Thursday.

The House is investigating allegations that the contract for constructing part of Nigeria's liquefied natural gas complex at Bonny Island was corruptly awarded to the consortium. TSKJ comprises Technip (13170.FR), Eni SpA (E) unit Snamprogetti, Japanese Gas Corp. (JGC) and Kellogg, Brown and Root - a Halliburton subsidiary.

The consortium allegedly paid $180 million to Tristar, a Gibraltar-based company, effectively forming a slush fund for Nigerian officials belonging to the former regime.

Halliburton said this week that an internal investigation had uncovered documents indicating that TSKJ officials discussed bribing public officials in Nigeria to secure a multibillion-dollar contract there. However, Halliburton said it was unclear whether money was actually paid.

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[GRClarkesq]

2. Must have bribed the wrong guys

Need a new VP of payola.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. Ha ha. This story is picking up steam

Cheney was there around this time.

[Moderator]

4. Duplicate

add this article if it offers more information

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=798124