THE Federal Government’s effort at prosecuting former United States Vice President Richard Bruce ‘Dick’ Cheney and other officials of Halliburton paid off, following payment of huge sums of money to the coffers of Nigeria, as Nigeria has reportedly agreed to drop charges against Cheney and Halliburton.

The development followed agreement reached between Nigerian officials in the negotiating team and top officials of the United States and Halliburton in a meeting held in London, weekend.

At the meeting, Halliburton agreed to pay about N20 billion as criminal penalty, while promising to liaise with the United States Government to recover the outstanding $I32 million which is currently frozen in Switzerland.

It was gathered that former United States President, George Bush, Snr and former United States Secretary of State, Mr. James Baker were part of the deliberations through conference calls.

The Attorney General of Federation and Justice Minister, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, led Nigeria’s team at the negotiations which included the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Emmanuel Akomaye, legal luminaries, Damian Dodo, SAN, and Godwin Obla and the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Roland Ewubare.

Halliburton’s Chief Executive and Chairman, David Lesar, who replaced Cheney, Halliburton President, Eastern Hemisphere, Ahmed Lofty,
Deputy General Counsel, James Ferguson were part of it.

Halliburton sought for small fines but the Nigeria officials vehemently opposed the move, reasoning that the United States could not have benefitted from the fines more than Nigeria, where the crime was committed originally. “We will not settle for less than what was paid to the U.S Government”, the AGF said