Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has petitioned Mrs Farida Waziri, Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) requesting her to “urgently take steps to seek adequate damages and compensation against multinational corporations who have been found guilty in the US of committing foreign bribery in Nigeria, and to take all necessary steps to effectively bring to justice the Nigerian officials complicit in such cases of bribery.”

In a petition dated 2 August 2011, and signed by SERAP Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the group said that, “The failure by the Nigerian government to ensure that adequate damages are paid in proven cases of foreign bribery in the country constitutes a violation of the international legal rights of the deprived, and may itself constitute an international wrong.”
The group said that, “Many multinational corporations operating in Nigeria have paid several millions of dollars in bribes to Nigerian government officials and to some political parties. However, while huge payments have been made in settlements in the US, Germany and the UK, only a paltry amount has been paid in Nigeria.”

The group also said that, “Yet, the Nigerian people have suffered more the effects of foreign bribery. Foreign bribery has caused immense damage and devastation to the economy and to institutions of governance, and directly undermined the full and effective enjoyment of internationally recognized human rights, especially economic, social and cultural rights by the citizens.”

“Nigerians have not benefitted from the large number of foreign bribery cases and investigations in OECD Convention countries that include allegations of bribery in Nigeria,” the group added.
The group further argued that, “foreign bribery in the country has uneven consequences against the vulnerable groups of the society, including the poor, women and children, perpetrating and institutionalizing discrimination. It also jeopardizes the needs and well-being of future generations.”

Further information link: http://saharareporters.com/news-page/foreign-bribery-serap-asks-efcc-seek-damages-against-shell-siemens-others