Scientology
INFORMATION RELEASE
July 7, 2000
THIS PRESS RELEASE IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF CHIEF MKO ABIOLA, LATE
PRESIDENT-ELECT OF NIGERIA, WHO DIED MYSTERIOUSLY JULY 7, 1998. MAY HIS
SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE, AND MAY THE NIGERIA HE LEFT BEHIND NOT MAKE
HIS DEATH BE IN VAIN. [AMEN]
Dear Reader:
As you may be aware, the Nigerian Democratic Movement (NDM), a US-based
pro-democracy movement comprised of Nigerians and her friends, organized a
public forum at Howard University over a series of documents now popularly
known as "The Fashanu Report" concerning Nigeria's controversial 1988-1993
debt-buy-back scheme. Leading up to the forum, NDM's information/press
releases on the Fashanu Report were provided in:
http://nigeriaworld.com/feature/publication/maluko/ndm/fashanu_report.html
http://nigeriaworld.com/feature/publication/maluko/ndm/ndm_pr3.html
http://nigeriaworld.com/news/daily/2000/jun/121.html
Despite a faint hope to the contrary, the Fashanu team did not show up at
the Forum, even though Mr. Minton, the American millionaire-protagonist of
the saga, did, subjecting himself to a barrage of questions from forum
attendees. On the whole, he was adjudged to have acquitted himself
creditably.
To order a tape of the proceedings of the Forum, please send a money-order
for $25 addressed to NDM, c/o P.O. Box 518, Burtonsville, MD 20866.
Please allow four weeks for delivery.
Interest in the Fashanu report within and outside Nigeria has been deep
and wide. For example, earlier, President Obasanjo himself had made some
reference to Mr. Fashanu in an interview:
http://www.vanguardngr.com/va/052000/dm128050.htm
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news2/nn785401.html
http://www.vanguardngr.com/wk506200/ls202070.htm
http://nigeriaworld.com/cgi-bin/axs/ax.pl?http://nigeriaworld.com/news/sourc
e/2000/jul/6/9.html
where IBB is reported to have alleged that President Obasanjo set Mr.
Fashanu up to investigate him.
Our purpose in this release is to give some context to:
(1) what we understand was the reason why the Fashanu team did not show up
at the NDM Forum. This will be done through a set of four correspondences
between the President of NDM, Dr. Mobolaji Aluko, Mr. Robert Clarke, lead
investigator of the Fashanu team and Mr. Fashanu himself.
(2) some of the official legal steps that occurred BEFORE the Forum, and
that have occurred SINCE the Forum. Both of these involve correspondences
from the Nigerian High Commission in London to banking and legal entities
in Geneva, Switzerland - including one dated as recently as June 23, 2000
- that were made available to NDM by the Fashanu team.
The NDM does not take any position in this matter. We have no way of
knowing who is telling the truth or who has stolen Nigerian money.
Rather, in the democratic spirit of transparency and accountability that
we maintained during the dark days of the Abacha era and the June 12 saga,
and for which Chief MKO Abiola gave his life, we wish to LET THE WORLD
KNOW what the facts are, and then leave our readers to come to their own
conclusions. We also will continue to urge the authorities in Nigeria to
conduct a THOROUGH INVESTIGATION of ALL charges without fear or favor.
We will continue to maintain that democratic spirit as a memorial to Chief
MKO Abiola, who we fondly remember today.
RELEASED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE NDM
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 20:14:54 -0400 (EDT)
..
Well, I am hoping that you will be able to attend a public forum being
organized by my organization, NDM, to give further publicity to this
Fashanu report. We have already intimated John Fashanu about it, as well
as Bob Minton, and George and myself are committed to being present at the
forum.
We trust that you will be able to be the fifth participant of this forum
so that all of us can confront this issue HEAD-ON. I think it will give it
more momentum, don't you think so.
It is scheduled for June 11, 2000, from 4:00 - 7:00 pm at Howard
University.
Let me know AS SOON AS POSSIBLE whether you will be able to make it. I see
no reason why not! :-)
Do give me a call .....to talk this over.
Bolaji Aluko
Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2000 15:45:29 EDT
Could you please send me any details on what other topics will be
discussed concerning Nigerian issues or will this just be for the Fashanu
report? Who else will be there and has Mr. Minton committed and will he
bring any documentation?
We of course have lots of questions and this will help focus the
investigation. Looking forward to seeing you again and I will do what it
takes to change my plans.
It is a little short notice, is the date changeable?
All the best,
Rob
Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 22:27:07 EDT
I have been working with you for 2 years now presenting documents and
evidence always going in the direction of what would be best for the
people of Nigeria......
You may think this Forum is the right thing for Nigeria but I must
strongly disagree with you. What you are proposing would be equal to the
prosecution attorney and their investigators sitting down with the likes
of O.J. Simpson and his hired guns to compromise the criminal case before
it even gets started.....
I respect you tremendously but I must say I am deeply concerned and
surprised you would let Mr. Minton try to undermine the official Nigerian
investigation by having us present crucial evidence in a public Forum that
would absolutely compromise this investigation...
I trust you will read our response and post it to the appropriate audience
as our official position.
I am enclosing parts of the communication from the solicitors
involved....which echoes our exact concerns regarding this type of
inappropriate public Forum.
Warmest Regards,
Investigative Team
---- LETTER FROM SOLICITORS [ACCORDING TO THE FASHANU TEAM]
Dear Mr. Fashanu and investigators,
It has come to our notice that Mr. Robert Minton has contrived to stage a
public forum set for June 11th. It appears to be Minton's intention to use
the forum to undermine the Nigerian governments extensive investigations
into his financial activities.
Minton has furthermore contrived to secure the services of a journalist
and Nigerian Senator to paint his actions in the most favorable light
possible.
It appears that the institutionalization of crimes is what is being sought
by Mr. Minton which brings with it a legitimization of what he has done.
It is in that climate that nobody ever would bring any charges, and
thus nobody ever enters the court room. Yet, the court room is the only
place where specifics have to be answered.
Appropriate venues are the court rooms in Switzerland, in Lagos and in the
United Kingdom.
This forum can only be seen as an attempt to make light of very serious
allegations and charges. No data and information must be turned over to
that forum.
Thus please be advised that due to legal restraints you and your
colleagues' participation in this forum is impossible. It would undermine
the integrity of the 3 year investigation which has uncovered criminal
actions.
Best regards,
[FROM THE SOLICITORS OF THE FASHANU TEAM]
-
OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER
We are informed that the above account is hedl in the name of KAROSA
Foundation, and is admnistered by a Mr. Nessim Habib. Further, a codename
made up by Robert Minton to identify himself to the bank is "B. Katy."
Moreover, we are made to understand that some of these associated accounts
are opened in the name of Robert Minton's wife, Therese Minton, and the
account is administered by one Patricia Cousins (Account Manager) with
your London Branch.
The President and the Federal Government of Nigeria hereby seek your
co-operation that this account be frozen until the completion of the
investigation on this matter.
On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, I hereby thank you for
your co-operation.
Yours sincerely
[SIGNED]
Bola Ajibola
CC: Branch Manager
NOTE FROM MR. FASHANU
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Let me make it clear from the start the Debt Buyback Report is not a
political expose it is a financial expose, and one that has cost me
dearly. The individuals involved in this corrupt scheme have personally,
financially and socially tried to ruin my reputation through the media and
their political connections. International bankers stole millions from
Nigeria and they should be held accountable. Nothing will be achieved if
Nigerians turn on each other, however, people like Mr. Minton and his
accomplices have acquired a number of friends who are trying to use the
Debt Buyback report to create political mischief and discontent among the
political and financial apparatus within Nigeria.
The following offers the only transparency to date on this report.
Volume one of the four completed reports was officially submitted to the
Nigerian government May 29th, 2000. After reviewing the report the
Nigerian government swiftly retained the services of a prominent Swiss
attorney in Geneva by the name of Philippe Neyroud who specializes in
financial fraud and criminal activities involving money laundering. Mr.
Neyroud immediately recognized criminal activities undertaken by Mr.
Minton and the financial institutions involved and recommended to the
Nigerian government that they authorize him to draft and submit a criminal
complaint to the Swiss criminal courts, which was filed June 26th, 2000
with Mr. Bernard Bertosa at the Palace of Justice Geneva and signed by the
Nigerian UK High Commissioner Prince Bola Ajibola. (I enclose a court
stamped copy of the criminal complaint in French along with an English
translation)
Within volume one of the report is the identification of hidden Swiss
accounts and all the banks and financial institutions used to facilitate
the Debt Buyback scheme. The report meticulously identifies all concerned
parties and their roles within the Debt Buyback Scheme, which mainly
consist of non Nigerian nationals and focuses on the individuals and banks
responsible for the mishandling of the Nigerian funds and the money
laundering activities of those involved.
I find it very interesting that Mr. Rasheed has come out so verbally
defending the CBN's position and that the Senate's report's findings have
superficially laid to rest any allegations of corruption when they have
not even seen the report submitted to the government. Mr. Rasheed was
working in the CBN during the time of the Debt Buyback Scheme and is now
in a very powerful position as Deputy Governor, Mr. Rasheed is obviously
protecting his job and position.
Mr. Minton and his coconspirators have kept the crucial documents away
from the CBN officials for nearly 12 years (or have the CBN officials kept
them hidden themselves?) while they used Nigerian funds to manipulate the
price of Nigerian debt while making millions of dollars undisclosed to the
Nigerian officials who were supposed to be overseeing this program. No
officials at the CBN or any other Nigerian government officials have
acknowledged reviewing the Deal Files or bank transfers between the
trading entities and the Swiss bank accounts uncovered in the report.
Volume 3 of the Debt Buyback Scheme report documents the offshore
companies and private bank accounts secretly used by Nigerian Bank
officials which could be the reason they are defending the scheme and
trying to stop any further investigation.
The Senator Idris Abubakar-led committee report which was signed on
February 29, described the debt buy back deals undertaken by Greenland
Holdings as very transparent, but it is clear the Senate committee never
reviewed the report that was submitted to the Nigerian government because
that was not done until May 29th, 2000. The committee states the scheme
was very transparent but they do not disclose what documents they make
that claim on, because incriminating documents have been withheld from
them. It took over a year for the forensic accountants and financial
investigators to piece together the maze of transactions which uncovered
the looted funds and now that information is being closely guarded or
withheld from the proper officials by the very individuals that want to
cover-up their own crimes, mainly the CBN officials in charge of the Debt
Buyback Scheme from 1988 to 1993.
While I can appreciate the position of the current Nigerian government to
try and keep this matter quite, I can not stand by and neither should the
people of Nigerian while President Obasanjo proclaims Nigeria is working
on an anti-corruption platform while the Nigerian Senate and CBN officials
play political games in the media trying to cover up their mishandling and
criminal activities.
If the Nigerian government really wants to emerge into democracy on an
anti-corruption platform and rid Nigeria of the corrupt practices and
officials it must take a stand against the individuals and financial
institutions that have eagerly taken advantage of and plunged the country
into it's current state.
Maybe the best course of action should be for the Nigerian government to
make the report which was submitted to the authorities available for all
Senators and interested media so they can independently verify it's
contents.
The additional reports volumes 2, 3 and 4 which will be made available to
the International and National authorities in due course consist of:
Volume 2; video surveillance, audio recordings and transcripts of
interviews with the involved parties to include Nigerian and Non-Nigerian
persons. Volume 3; Full documentation of financial records of the parties
involved to include Nigerian officials and Non-Nigerians. These financial
records document the criminal activities of certain individuals which have
corrupted the Nigerian financial structure with payoffs, offshore accounts
and contract awards. Volume 4; financial and political analysis with
documentation concerning the foreign creditors involved and defrauded in
the Debt Buyback Scheme along with details outlining IMF and World bank
involvement in the scheme.
My primary concern is to keep the focus of these criminal acts in the
jurisdiction of the criminal courts and not in the political arena where
personal and political motives whitewash or cover-up this financial fraud
to the detriment of Nigeria's international reputation..
Respectfully submitted,
John Fashanu and
ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF AN ORIGINAL FRENCH CORRESPONDENCE FOLLOWS
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
Geneva, June 23, 2000
Mr Bernard BERTOSSA
The investigation which is in progress in NIGERIA permitted to establish
that several billion dollars have been diverted by Robert MINTON to the
detriment of the FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA from 1987 to 1993, which
particularly reside in the accounts of DISCOUNT BANK AND TRUST COMPANY in
Geneva of which Robert MINTON is the holder and economic beneficiary of.
Following our interventions with this bank asking them on one side to
internally block the funds which Minton still has on account and on the
other side that the facts be communicated to the Bureau of Communication
concerning the laundering of money, Robert MINTON had a meeting with the
directors of the bank on May 30, 2000.
According to our information, he asked for the immediate transfer of his
funds as well as the destruction of documents.
We are herewith constituting ourselves as civil party and have elected
resident Mr Philippe NEYROUD, attorney, 8-10 rue de Hesse, 1204 Geneva.
The facts, briefly, are as follows:
1.-
Robert S. MINTON, an American national, resides at 137 Fremont Road,
Sandown, New Hampshire 03873, USA. Holds an American passport as well as
an Irish passport, and frequently travels to Switzerland, England and
Turkey.
His wife is Therese S. MINTON, residing at 39 West Cedar St., Boston,
Massachusetts 02114, USA.
2.-
In the mid 1980's the INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND and the WORLD BANK
required that the continuation of their assistance to NIGERIA
(restructuring of credits, new loans, etc.) depended on a reduction of the
external debts of that country.
At that time the contracts between Nigeria and international creditors and
debt holders had strict guidelines and clauses regarding the purchasing of
NIGERIAN debt without respecting the equality of the creditors of the same
rank.
3.-
In this frame, Robert MINTON conceived and executed a secret fraudulent
plan from 1987 to 1993 of buying debts by diverting considerable funds
coming from the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA and the NIGERIAN NATIONAL
PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC).
4.-
According to this plan, Robert MINTON and his accomplices established and
used several "special purpose" corporations for the purchasing of
debts of NIGERIA ("Bank debt, Government debt, promissory notes").
5.-
Having at their his disposal a confidential list identifying the principal
owners of the debts, Robert MINTON and his corporations then contacted
them directly with the purpose of convincing them that the NIGERIAN
government would never refund them and obtained from the majority of them
the transfer of the debt at a low price.
6.-
These acquisitions were financed with funds directly from the CBN and
NNPC.
The corporations of Robert MINTON then increased these debts to higher
prices to the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA and resulted in several millions of
dollars more in commissions and fees.
The CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA bought the debts for several million of
dollars more, being defrauded by not being provided with the actual costs
to the corporations of Mr. MINTON.
7.-
In this context, GML INTERNATIONAL Ltd (previously GROWTH MANAGEMENT Ltd)
established in London by Robert MINTON (Att. 1-2),, played a central role
as "financial advisors".
MINTON has been separated from that corporation since 1991.
Other corporations were established and utilized by MINTON, specifically:
A. GREENLAND HOLDINGS Inc., Panama.
B. SHAMROCK FINANCIAL CORPORATION, established in Sandown / Salem, New
Hampshire, USA, January 30, 1991 (Att. 3)
C. GREENCLAD Ltd established in London June 30, 1986 (Att. 4) of which the
corporate name was changed on June 30, 1986 to GROMAN FORFAITING Ltd. The
corporation was dissolved in December 1989 (Att. 5).
D. TRIOLET INTERNATIONAL Inc, established in Boston, Massachusetts,
September 13, 1988 and which merged on December 31, 1990 with TRIOLET
INTERNATIONAL Ltd (Att. 6-7).
E. TRIOLET INTERNATIONAL Ltd. established in Manchester, New Hampshire on
December 21, 1980 and dissolved in May 1998 (Att. 8).
F ARGYLE KENT Ltd London.
8.-
The two corporations TRIOLET INTERNATIONAL and SHAMROCK FINANCIAL acquired
debts owed by NIGERIA for a total of $5 billion in nominal value between
1988 and 1993. Debts of nominal value of several hundreds of millions of
dollars were specifically acquired from BCCI.
9.-
Very likely the intermediary transfer of debts between firms permitted the
raise of costs of acquisition fictionally.
10.-
With letter of January 15, 1992 signed by Robert MINTON, SHAMROCK
FINANCIAL CORPORATION confirmed to the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA the
acquisition of bank debt for an amount of $1,200,000,000 (and that for the
benefit of the Central Bank of Nigeria). (Att. 9)
11.-
The detailed accounting of the operations for GREENLAND HOLDING INC. also
indicates the purchase of debts from March 1988 to December 1991 for more
than one billion dollars.
This accounting shows a list of owners of the debt from whom they were
bought, the nominal value as well as the "Cost to GREENLAND" which
represents in each case between 25% and 45% of their nominal value. (Att.
10)
We know however that most of the debts had been obtained at a very low
price and the alleged "Cost to GREENLAND" provided by MINTON to the
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA was false. The records of intermediary bankers or
"Debt Traders" permit to establish the insider trading which escalated
the price, And increased undisclosed fees and commissions.
12.-
In Geneva, Robert MINTON deposited the diverted funds in different bank
accounts which were opened for corporations as well as his personal
accounts operated with codes.
13.-
ROBERT MINTON and his wife opened several accounts specifically for
GREENLAND HOLDINGS, at the DISCOUNT BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, 1-3 quai de
l'Ile, 1204 Geneva.
MINTON was introduced to this bank by M. Jozef BICACO, a Turkish national,
residing at rue Louis-Curval 10, 1206, Geneva.
M. Albert CEZANA, sub-director, residing at 10 chemin Rieu, Geneva and M
Nessim HABIB, associate director, residing at 96, chemin du Levant in
Lausanne were in charge of managing the accounts.
One of the important accounts that Minton was the economic beneficiary of
was opened in the name of the KAROSA Foundation. This foundation is being
administered by M Nessim HABIB.
At this Geneva bank, MINTON used to identify himself under the name of
"Mr. B. Katy". It is by the way noted that this organization issued
credit cards under the (false) name Katy used by Mr. Minton.
Several hundreds of millions of dollars were diverted to the detriment of
Nigeria between 1987 and 1993 and went through the accounts at DISCOUNT
BANK AND TRUST COMPANY in Geneva.
We know that on 19 November 1998, a transaction in the amount of $4
million was conducted at this bank by MINTON and the KAROSA Foundation;
account number: 108:10179140900.
MINTON and his wife are actually in contact with DISCOUNT BANK AND TRUST
COMPANY Geneva where they own important funds.
14.-
Connected with the Geneva bank, Robert MINTON and his wife are also the
holders and economic beneficiaries of accounts with the DISCOUNT BANK AND
TRUST COMPANY in London. Those accounts are being managed by M Patricia
COUSINS (Account Manager).
15.-
With letter of March 29, 2000, Prince Bola AJIBOLA, High Commissioner of
NIGERIA in London informed DISCOUNT BANK AND TRUST COMPANY Geneva that a
judicial investigation had been opened against MINTON and demanded that
the bank block his funds internally. (Att. 11).
On April 3, 2000 our counsel in Geneva confirmed to the bank that they had
to proceed and had the obligation to state the facts to the Bureau of
Communication concerning money laundering in accordance with the law
relating to the fight against money laundering n the financial sector.
(Att. 12).
The bank confirmed receipt of the letter on April 4, 2000 without however
stating the measures they wanted to take. (Att. 13)
16.-
In this context, Robert MINTON traveled to Europe to meet the directors of
the DISCOUNT BANK AND TRUST COMPANY.
MINTON was accompanied in his travels by Stacy BROOKS, an American
national, born April 8, 1952 and residing at 107 17th St. Belleair Beach,
Florida 33786.
17.-
In London, MINTON had a meeting on May 25, 2000 at the offices of DISCOUNT
BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, Grosvenor Square 34 with Patricia COUSINS and M
Nessim HABIB who is managing the accounts for the Geneva bank.
18.-
On 30 May 2000, ROBERT MINTON went to the offices of DISCOUNT BANK AND
TRUST in Geneva where he had a meeting with the directors.
According to our information, Robert MINTON demanded at that meeting the
immediate transfer of his funds specifically to Germany and Great Britain
as well as the destruction of documents.
Following that meeting, our law firm addressed a new circumstantial
correspondence --- by Fax and hand couriered --- mentioning the presence
of Robert MINTON in their house and reminding them of their vigilant
obligation. (Att. 14)
19.-
MINTON and his escort departed Geneva on May 31, 2000 for Frankfurt,
Hamburg and Leipzig for meetings with German banks.
MINTON and Stacy BROOKS reserved places to return to Boston, United States
for June 5, 2000.
20.-
Other accounts were opened by MINTON in Switzerland, specifically in the
name of "PREDILECT", GROWTH MANAGEMENT Ltd / GML INTERNATIONAL Ltd and
GREENLAND HOLDINGS, at CENTRAPRIV ZURICH AG, Stauffacherstrasse 44, 8039
Zurich and BANK CANTRADE Zurich.
Mr Kurt BYLANG of CENTRAPRIV ZURICH AG was in charge of administering the
accounts at CANTRADE BANK.
Very likely in connection with CENTRAPRIV ZURICH AG, GREENLAND HOLDINGS
has an address at Stauffacherstrasse 5, 8089 Zurich.
After having suspected that the funds received from NIGERIA constituted an
activity of money laundering, BANK CANTRADE closed its accounts for GROWTH
MANAGEMENT Ltd / GML INTERNATIONAL LTD and GREENLAND HOLDINGS.
The main conduit and flow of funds into DISCOUNT BANK AND TRUST came from
OSTERREICHISCHE LANDERBANK now known as BANK AUSTRIA which is also
suspected of harboring assets for Mr. MINTON accumulated through his
criminal enterprise.
21.-
Robert MINTON, GML INTERNATIONAL Ltd, GREENLAND HOLDINGS, TRIOLET
NTERNATIONAL and SHAMROCK FINANCIAL CORPORATION, have also been in contact
with the following banks and financial institutions:
BANQUE DE DEPOTS, 94 rue du Rhone, Geneva (GORDON-AHMED Sabiha, sub
director),
HERITAGE FINANCE & TRUST SA, 12 cours des Bastions, 1205 Geneva (M.
Christian M WAGNER).
SIFIDA Societe Internationale Financiere pour les Investissements et le
Developpement en Afrique, Luxembourg, Affiliate of Chene-Bourg, rue
Francois- Perreard 22 (M. Philippe SECHAUD, Administrative delegate).
SWISS BANK CORP, especially for operations with the agency in New York
10008, 222 Broadway (M. Anton SPICIJARIC).
PARVENTA FINANZ AG, Bale Zug
* * *
The relative facts constitute violations of statutes at the beginning of
the complaint, fraud, forgery of financial documents and money laundering.
We respectfully request the seizure at DISCOUNT BANK AND TRUST COMPANY,
Geneva, of assets in the various accounts for which Robert MINTON and his
wife are the owners, economic beneficiaries or for which they are
nominees, as well as the seizure of correspondence (including the written
instructions and internal notes relative to the different communications)
of the various accounts for which they are or were the owners, economic
beneficiaries, and this from the beginning of the opening of the accounts.
We also request the interrogations of M. Joseph ASSARAF, Director General,
of M Nessim HABIB, of M Albert CEZANA and other employees of the bank who
have knowledge of the accounts which Robert MINTON has / had the control
of.
Very respectfully
THE NIGERIAN DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT (NDM)
THE FASHANU REPORT AND AFTERMATH OF THE NDM FORUM
"That the World May Know"
http://nigeriaworld.com/feature/publication/maluko/ndm/fashanu_report2.html
while the Forum on June 11, 2000 was announced in:
Finally, an excellent news reports of the happenings at the Forum can be
found in:
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news2/nn786710.html
Furthermore, the Senate of the Republic of Nigeria, after taking notice
of the Fashanu revelations in:
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news2/nn787103.html
made some pronouncements recently after their own investigations as
reported in:
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news2/nn790306.html
Most interestingly, within the past few days, a connection (or allegation
thereof) between General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB, former head of
state of Nigeria between August 27, 1985 and August 27, 1993), President
Olusegun Matthew Aremu Obasanjo and Mr. John Fashanu was made in a recent
publication titled "Babangida Opens Up on Campaign Financing" :
From: "Mobolaji E. Aluko" <maluko@scs.howard.edu>
To: .........@aol.com
Subject: NDM Public Forum - An Invitation to You to Attend as a
Participant
June 2, 2000
Dear Rob:
From: ......@aol.com
To: maluko@scs.howard.edu
Subject: Re: FASHANU & U.S. BUSINESSMAN TO DEBATE DEBT BUYBACK SCHEME IN
PUBLIC (fwd)
Hello Professor,
After speaking with the some of the other investigators we all think this
will be a perfect opportunity to discuss the main issues of the buyback
scheme. Our team will be there for the Forum and I will keep you informed
on any developments.
From: ..........@aol.com
To: maluko@scs.howard.edu
Subject: (no subject)
Hello Professor,
Once again sorry for the delay, but the current developments regarding the
looted funds from Nigeria always takes front seat to any other
developments.
Nigeria House, 9 Northumberlan Avenue, London WC2N SBX
Telephone: 071839 1244 Fax: 071-839-8746
Ref: NHC/ECON/41/1
Discount Bank and Trust Geneva
Quai de L'ile 3
Case Postale 5430
CH-1211 Geneva 11 Switzerland
Fax: 41 22 310 1703
29 March 2000
Dear Sir,
RE: MATTER OF CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY, LARGE SCALE MISAPPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC
FUNDS, CORRUPT ENRICHMENT AND STEALING INVOLVING THE SUM OF ONE HUNDRED
MILLION US DOLLARS ($100,000,000) OR MORE, BELONDING TO THE FEDERAL
REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
Please be informed that the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed
Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has
directed me to urgently notify you that investigation has just commmenced
regarding a matter of criminal conspiracy, large scale misappropriation of
public funds, corrupt enrichment and stealling involving a large sum of
public funds belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria, part of which
is the sum of One Hunder Million Dollars ($100,000,000) or more deposited
into the associated accounts of one Robert Minto of 137, Fremont Road,
Sandown, NH, USA, who account number is 108: 10179140900.
Discount Bank and Trust Geneva (London Branch)
P.O. Box 4QP
London w1A $QP
Fax: 0171 4092877
Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2000 15:33:22 EDT
From: .....@aol.com
Dear Sir,
Having read the article in the Sunday Vanguard entitled "Nigeria; CBN
Linked with Greenland Holdings" I felt it my duty to respond and clarify
some of the issues discussed concerning many of the documents and the
first completed report submitted to the Nigerian government by the
financial investigators working on the Nigerian Debt Buyback scandals.
The Financial Investigators and Forensic Accountanting Team
Prosecutor General
and his Office
PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Place du Bourg-de-Four 1
1204 GENEVA
Prosecutor General,
We have agreed regretfully to file a penal complaint against Robert
MINTON, as well as co-conspirators for charges of fraud (Art. 146 Penal
Code), forgery of financial documents (Art. 251 Penal Code) and the
laundering of money (Art. 305 ff Penal Code).
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
[SIGNED]
Prince Bola Ajibola
High Comissioner
END