Contrary to expectations, the Chairman of Globacom, Chief Mike Adenuga did not appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission today, Friday, June 18 in continuation of the ongoing interrogation of prominent Nigerians allegedly implicated in the 17.5million euro Siemens bribery scandal.
Instead, two Directors of the company, Mrs. Gladys Alabi and Mr. Mike Jutubo, showed up at the nation’s anti- graft agency accompanied by a Director in the Finance Ministry, Mrs. Mercy Agbamuche.
Chief Adenuga is said to be in South Africa as part of the Federal Government delegation to the FIFA World Cup.
The anti-graft commission had said that the invitation of Adenuga and others was informed by fresh discoveries in the Siemens bribery saga.
A German consulting firm dealing in engines, C. Woermann Nigeria Limited was named as the conduit through which the alleged bribe was channelled to some top officials of government.
The Siemens 17.5million euro scandal was uncovered in 2009 by the German police after invading the headquarters of the company in Germany over allegations of bribing some Nigerians, Libyans and Russians in its bid to get contracts.
Globacom in this regard, has released a statement declaring that it is not in any way involved in the Siemens bribery scam.
The company in the release issued by its Public Relations Department, stated that the only relationship it ever had with Siemens, as a private company, was when it awarded a single contract in 2003 to the German firm for the provision of Global System of Mobile Communications (GSM) and broad access infrastructure in some parts of the country, and awarded part of the national fibre backbone infrastructure.
“It should be noted that the equipment supply and installation contract forms the basis of the only relationship that Globacom has had with Siemens. It was and remains a normal business interaction that was entered into by Globacom purely to meet its network expansion needs. Globacom has had no other form of relationship or dealings with Siemens,” Globacom stated.
In reaction however, Chief Adenuga promised to honour the invitation of the nation’s anti-graft agency when he returns to the country.
