Chief Dan Etete, former minister of petroleum resources
under the Sani Abacha administration, who in 2007 was sentenced by a French
court to three years in prison in absentia and a fine of 300,000 euros ($440,000)
for money laundering, has been cleared by the government of France. Etete was
convicted seven years ago for using 15 million euros in funds obtained
fraudulently to purchase properties in 1999 and 2000, including a chateau in
northwest France, a Paris apartment and a luxury villa in the chic Paris suburb
of Neuilly. The court ordered the former minister to pay 150,000 euros to
Nigeria in compensation for moral prejudice and 20,000 euros in fees.
See bulletin below:
“The letter dated March 17, read: “As you know, Mr. Dan
Etete, eminent personality in Nigeria, is a great friend of France and has been
so for many years. In spite of the judicial vicissitudes that he has
unfortunately known in the beginning of years 2000, he is now free of any
constraint and he complies with the fiscal and legal French administrations.
Etete’s solicitors, Pierre Benoliel, have written a
letter to the French Ambassador in Nigeria, to accord the former minister
recognition and deal with him as free man with no constraints.
2 Comments
Its a big shame
ReplyDeleteHe's lucky
ReplyDelete