Nigerian anti-corruption authorities have summoned top officials from Shell and Halliburton as part of separate investigations into alleged bribery, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.
“The [local] managing director of Shell and that of Halliburton are to appear in our Lagos office today for questioning over bribery cases,” said Femi Babafemi, spokesperson for Nigeria’s anti-graft agency.
“Apart from these two chief executives, there are 21 other people, both expatriates and Nigerians, that are to appear in Abuja today for questioning over the scandals.”
Authorities also raided Halliburton’s office in Lagos last week and detained 10 people — eight Nigerians and two expatriates — who have since been released as investigations continue, he said. Documents were taken as well.
Alleged bribery
He said the Shell executive would be questioned over recent cases settled in the United States that saw oil services companies and freight forwarding firm Panalpina World Transport Holding pay nearly $240-million.
The allegations involved alleged bribery in a range of countries, including Nigeria. Shell agreed to pay about $48-million as part of the settlements.
A Shell spokesperson in Nigeria declined to comment in detail, but said the company would cooperate.
“We will cooperate with the authorities over any investigation they make, but the company will not comment on specifics,” Tony Okonedo said.
The Halliburton executive would be questioned over an alleged $182-million cash-for-contract scandal involving construction of a liquefied natural gas plant in southern Nigeria, Babafemi said.
US authorities said last year that Halliburton and its former subsidiary Kellogg Brown and Root had agreed to pay $579-million in fines related to the case.
It was one of the biggest fines paid by US companies in a foreign corruption case.
In October, a Nigerian court charged a personal aide to ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo in a probe linked to the case.
Halliburton’s office in Lagos on Tuesday said no one was available to comment.
Nigeria is an Opec member and one of the world’s largest oil exporters. – AFP