Posted by By Philip Shenon The New York Times on
The vice president of Nigeria angrily denied Wednesday that he accepted bribes or had a business relationship with Representative William Jefferson, Democrat of Louisiana, who is the target of a federal corruption investigation that is threatening to complicate U.S. relations with that oil-rich West African nation.
The vice president of Nigeria angrily denied Wednesday that he accepted bribes or had a business relationship with Representative William Jefferson, Democrat of Louisiana, who is the target of a federal corruption investigation that is threatening to complicate U.S. relations with that oil-rich West African nation.
In a statement made available by his Washington lawyers, Vice President Atiku Abubakar of Nigeria, a leading candidate in Nigeria's presidential election next year, insisted that Jefferson had never "suggested - in any way - providing any personal economic benefits" to him.
Abubakar said that he had "no relationship with Jefferson, personal or private, other than the usual diplomatic courtesies" extended to a U.S. official promoting development in Nigeria, a major exporter of oil to the United States. One of Abubakar's lawyers, Edward Weidenfeld, said that "there is nothing linking the vice president with Congressman Jefferson except Mr. Jefferson's own false, self-serving statements."
Weidenfeld said that his client was entitled to a statement from federal prosecutors that he was "an innocent victim."
The statements on Wednesday were the first detailed effort by Abubakar and his political advisers to distance him from the wide-ranging corruption investigation centered on Jefferson, an eight-term lawmaker who was influential on African issues in the House.
U.S. prosecutors have said that Jefferson is under investigation for conspiring to bribe officials in Nigeria and elsewhere in West Africa in exchange for their help in securing government contracts for a small Kentucky-based technology company partly controlled by Jefferson.
Jefferson has denied wrongdoing and is seeking re-election in November. His spokeswoman, Judy Smith, said Jefferson agreed with Abubakar that "the vice president never accepted or agreed to accept any money from the congressman."
The criminal investigation has accelerated in recent weeks. On Wednesday, a federal judge ruled that investigators could begin examining documents seized in a search of Jefferson's offices on Capitol Hill.
WASHINGTON The vice president of Nigeria angrily denied Wednesday that he accepted bribes or had a business relationship with Representative William Jefferson, Democrat of Louisiana, who is the target of a federal corruption investigation that is threatening to complicate U.S. relations with that oil-rich West African nation.
In a statement made available by his Washington lawyers, Vice President Atiku Abubakar of Nigeria, a leading candidate in Nigeria's presidential election next year, insisted that Jefferson had never "suggested - in any way - providing any personal economic benefits" to him.
Abubakar said that he had "no relationship with Jefferson, personal or private, other than the usual diplomatic courtesies" extended to a U.S. official promoting development in Nigeria, a major exporter of oil to the United States. One of Abubakar's lawyers, Edward Weidenfeld, said that "there is nothing linking the vice president with Congressman Jefferson except Mr. Jefferson's own false, self-serving statements."
Weidenfeld said that his client was entitled to a statement from federal prosecutors that he was "an innocent victim."
The statements on Wednesday were the first detailed effort by Abubakar and his political advisers to distance him from the wide-ranging corruption investigation centered on Jefferson, an eight-term lawmaker who was influential on African issues in the House.
U.S. prosecutors have said that Jefferson is under investigation for conspiring to bribe officials in Nigeria and elsewhere in West Africa in exchange for their help in securing government contracts for a small Kentucky-based technology company partly controlled by Jefferson.
Jefferson has denied wrongdoing and is seeking re-election in November. His spokeswoman, Judy Smith, said Jefferson agreed with Abubakar that "the vice president never accepted or agreed to accept any money from the congressman."
The criminal investigation has accelerated in recent weeks. On Wednesday, a federal judge ruled that investigators could begin examining