A seven-year prison sentence and a fine of $10.9m, has been handed a former chief executive, Albert Stanley, of US construction firm KBR who has pleaded guilty to charges of bribery and corruption in Nigeria.
Reports say that the former executive bribes the necessary Nigerian officials to land huge construction contracts valued over $70bn. He along with other personnel’s where charged with violating anti-bribery rules under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Nigerians are saying the indicted former official should not pay the penalty alone. They want the law to catch up with the corrupt Nigerian government officials who collected the bribes. It was revealed at the hearing that the corrupt practices between the KBR former executive and the dirty government officials have been going on for over a decade now.
Nigerians believe such corrupt practices take place from the local government parastatal to the federal seats and more has to be done to clean the system of such officers.
The acting assistant attorney general, Matthew Friedrich, was quoted as saying ‘Today’s plea demonstrates that corporate executives who bribe foreign government officials in return for lucrative business deals can expect to face prosecution.’ His words will come as a sign of hope to praying Nigerians.
