A fresh twist emerged in the Halliburton bribery saga on Wednesday when the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, revealed that $140m out of the $180m allegedly offered to some former Nigerian government officials was trapped in a Swiss bank.

But Aondoakaa, who was inverviewed by journalists in the State House shortly before the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, did not disclose the bank and the owner(s) of the account.

He argued that the existence of the account suggested that Nigerians mentioned as beneficiaries of the kickback by one of the major players, Jeffrey Tesler, in the scandal might not have received it.

The minister said that the information was obtained in the course of his visit to the United States, where he claimed to have met relevant officials.

According to Aondoakaa, the Federal Government does not know the identity of the Nigerians because the judgment, in which their names were contained, is currently under seal in the US.

He said, “The judgment is under seal, the people sealed the names in court. So, you can’t get the names unless the US government releases (them) under (the) Classified Information Act of US Government.

“So, unless you go to the US government and they will release the names to you; and you are talking as if the President (Umaru Yar’Adua) has the names.”

Although he was silent on whether or not the Federal Government would make such a request, the minister insisted that anybody found guilty in the Halliburton case would be prosecuted.

Stressing that the government would verify any information on the identity of the Nigerians fingered in the scam, Aondoakaa said, “The mere fact that somebody wrote in his book that I have voted $40m to bribe you doesn’t mean you have taken bribe.

“He can vote that money and pocket it. For instance, let me tell you that we have discovered now that $150m of that money is in Zurich bank; that is the first shocking discovery, the money is $180 but $150m is already in Zurich; trapped in Zurich.”

Asked how the money found its way into a Swiss bank, Aondoakaa said, “I don’t know how, that is what we are going to find out.”

Continuing, he said, “I went to the US and we have had very useful information but we want to have official information; I don’t want to work on all information.

“Even if you are working with me and sharing ideas with me, I must have the ideas authenticated by government and US government is a very friendly government, they are very friendly with us.”

The minister said government would only prosecute people based on verifiable evidence.

“All these names you gave, government does not prosecute based on newspaper talks. If somebody said I have voted $40m for you, what is your name? I mean the $40m, that is his own wish, if the money did not reach you, can I come and prosecute you because in his book he wrote $40m?

“There must be evidence that was tendered to show that the money was handed over to you. Was it wire transfer? Was it through somebody? So, these are the kind of things we want to establish.”

He reiterated that nobody, including any former President that might be involved in the scam, would be exempted from prosecution.

The minister said, “I don’t create insinuations; when crime is committed, we prosecute. Can we deny prosecution against anybody?”