Abuja:  The Federal Government will charge more suspects to court in the Halliburton bribery scandal as soon as it gathers more evidence linking them to the sleaze, a top official of the Minister of Justice told THISDAY last night. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, had last week filed charges against 15 suspects at an Abuja high court in one of the most celebrated bribe-for-contract scandals in the world.

Halliburton officials have already been convicted in the United States over the affair, with the US government imposing fines of nearly $100 million on the culprits.

"Investigations have not been closed," the source said. "As soon as we unearth new evidence, more suspects will be charged, no matter how highly placed. We are very hopeful that during this trial, more revelations will come into the open to help the anti-graft agencies in their investigations. To say the probe is over is incorrect."

Among those already charged to court are former personal assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr. Adeyanju Bodunde, and a company linked to a former military head of state, Maizube Holdings Limited. Also charged are George Mark, Hans George Christ, Heinrich J. Stockhausen, Ibrahim Aliyu, AVM Abdullahi Dominic Bello and Mohammed Gidado Bakare.

Companies which are also facing trial are the biggest construction contractors in Nigeria, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, as well as Bilfinger Berger GMBH, Urban Shelter Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited, Sherwood Petroleum Limited, Tri-Star Investment Limited, and TSKJ Nigeria Limited, associated with Technip S.A., Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V., Kellogg Brown and Root Inc Japan Gasoline Corporation of Japan.

However, the government is being criticised for not netting any "big fish", but the source who spoke to THISDAY said such conclusions were "premature".

"The Attorney-General cannot charge anyone to court without evidence," he said, pointing out that the trial of a former governor was bungled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) because of poor prosecution and lack of evidence.

"If the AGF wants to play to the gallery, he would charge all sorts of persons to court and then the case would be thrown out for lack of merit or evidence. The steps taken so far are in line with the evidence at his disposal. This is to prove to Nigerians that the anti-graft war is not just about words. No amount of criticism or intimidation will stop the war. And nobody will be spared," the official said.

Last month, Adoke had, in an interview with THISDAY, said investigation into the Halliburton scam had been concluded and that he was going to address the media on the outcome of the investigation.

He had said then: "There is an interim report on the Halliburton scam. But again I was also told that there are various versions of that report. As a responsible Attorney General, it would be hasty on my part to begin to act on such reports dealing with a sensitive matter.

"I have not come to a conclusion on the matter. This is because the international aspect of the issue had not been concluded. At the end of the day, I don't want to charge wrong person to court. But in the next two weeks, investigation would have been concluded on the matter, and I will address the press on the step to be taken."

On Wednesday April 15, 2009, the Federal Government had constituted an investigating committee to investigate the bribery scandal.

When THISDAY called Adoke last night to ask him when he would make public the outcome of the investigation into the scam, he said he was in the United Kingdom and should be given up till Monday (today) to react. He refused to make further comments.

The investigation committee was headed by the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, while a representative of the National Security Adviser also served as a member and secretary. Other members of the investigating team were chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri; Director General, National Intelligence Agency and the Director-General, State Security Services, Mr. Afaz Gadzama.

On Tuesday, April 21, 2009 former AGF, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, inaugurated the committee and gave the panel eight weeks within which to submit its report. The eight weeks ran from the day of inauguration.

The terms of reference of the committee were:

(a)To examine the circumstances surrounding the Halliburton Bribery Scandal in the Bonny Liquefied Natural Gas Project;

(b) To liaise with appropriate agencies within and outside Nigeria to ensure disclosure of the names of Nigerians involved/implicated in the Halliburton Bribery scandal;

(c ) To establish the extent of involvement or culpability of any Nigerian in the bribery scandal and the sums of money allegedly paid out to any person in Nigeria by Halliburton as bribes in respect of the Bonny LNG Project, and

(d) To liaise with the Swiss authorities with a view to tracing and recovering any sums stashed in Swiss authorities with a view to tracing and recovering any sums stashed in Swiss banks for the benefit of those involved in the Bonny Liquefied Natural Gas Project bribery scandal.

*  From Tobi Soniyi in Abuja, 09.05.2010