Halliburton scandal: Group petitions IG, SSS over ministerial nominee

According to the group, Nigerians were told that the new ministers will pass security screening before the Senate screening but wondered why Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, a former Deputy Group Managing Director of the NNPC who was invited by the SSS to give his account of the Halliburton financial Scandal made the ministerial list. The copies […]

According to the group, Nigerians were told that the new ministers will pass security screening before the Senate screening but wondered why Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, a former Deputy Group Managing Director of the NNPC who was invited by the SSS to give his account of the Halliburton financial Scandal made the ministerial list.

The copies of the petition, sent to Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, is urging him to drop the Edo State indigene from the ministerial list, saying that people with questionable character should not be allowed to occupy sensitive positions. The letter, dated 24 March, 2010, with the heading: ‘Breach of Public Trust and National Security by the ministerial Nominee, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, stated that, “We the members of Transparency Watch Nigeria both home and abroad are concerned with the security, peace and good conduct of both the governors and the governed.”

The statement further read: “Since investigations are ongoing, it is on this note that we call on Nigerian security services and the federal government to save our country from this embarrassment by withdrawing the nomination of Chris Ogiemwonyi from the list of ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”