Siemens AG of Germany has apologised to Nigeria for the embarrassment the �10m bribe allegedly offered to four former ministers and some public officials by its Nigerian subsidiary, Siemens Limited Nigeria, caused the country.
The apology was contained in a letter written to President Umaru Yar�Adua by Mr. Rudi Lamprecht, a member of the management board of Siemens AG.
In the letter, dated November 21 and copied the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Joachim Schmillen; and the Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Limited Nigeria, Mr. Waclaw Lukowitcz, Lamprecht sought an audience with Yar�Adua.
Lamprecht, who oversees Siemens operations in the Middle East and Africa, reaffirmed the company�s preparedness to cooperate with the Nigerian authorities in its investigations into the scandal.
The letter which was obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday reads, �As the meeting of the Honorary International Investor Council was postponed, I unfortunately did not have the pleasure yet to meet you personally.
�Nevertheless, I would like to convey to your Excellency that with great concern, I am following the very disturbing media reports of the recent days involving our company.
�I also wish to assure Your Excellency that corruption is the very opposite of everything Siemens stands for.
�It is pertinent to note that bribery and corruption are against our business policies.
�We, therefore, regret the embarrassment the action or inaction of a few people may have caused.
�Please note that since the investigation into allegations in various countries started in Munich last year, the company has been cooperating with various law enforcement agencies to get to the root of the matter.
�We have internal audit going on at Siemens AG in Germany, with reference to Siemens Limited Nigeria, to find out about any irregularities.
�Siemens AG has commissioned the law firm of Debevoise and Plimpton for the purpose of several internal investigations and compliance issues.
�Apart from our resolve to get to the root of the matter, we wish to assure you, that the anti-corruption compliance programme that is put in place in the company globally since the allegations, will ensure full compliance.
�This issue is very important and complex and it is in our interest to continue our good relationship of partnership with Nigeria being a good corporate citizen with substantial investments and interests in Nigeria upholding our good name.
�Therefore, I would kindly request for the opportunity to have a personal meeting with your Excellency at your earliest convenience to explain the situation and our actions towards getting full transparency on any allegations and ensuring full compliance.
�I am looking forward to having the opportunity to meeting you.�
Investigations into the bribery allegations started in 2006.
At the end of the case on October 4, 2007, Siemens was found guilty of paying bribes and was fined �201m by a Munich court.
The bribes were said to have been paid to officials in Nigeria, Russia and Libya.
Those said to be involved in Nigeria included four former Ministers of Communications � Alhaji Mohammed Bello; the late Haruna Elewi; Maj.-Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju, and Chief Cornelius Adebayo.
Bello, Olanrewaju and Adebayo have all denied involvement in the scam.
Senator Jubril Aminu, who is one of the other Nigerians mentioned in the scandal also denied involvement.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission had shortly after Yar�Adua ordered investigations into the scam, summoned more than 10 people in connection with the incident.
The President�s Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, had in a statement said, �In this Siemens scandal, as in all cases that border on good governance and transparency, there will neither be sacred cows nor a cover-up for anybody found culpable of breaching the law�.
Siemens�s own investigations uncovered more than �1.3bn in suspicious payments.
The company�s chairman and chief executive both resigned over the scandal.
At least two employees of the company were given suspended sentences for the bribery and breach of trust.
Siemens accepted the Munich court judgment and agreed to pay �179m to tax authorities in Germany.
Source: The Punch