Former US congress man, William J. Jefferson, 62, representing a district in the New Orleans, but whose freezer was said by federal agents to be stuffed with cash has been convicted.
He was accused of using his office to enrich himself and relatives through a web of bribes and payoffs.
The case which was decided on August 5, stemmed from his efforts to promote contracts in Africa for Gate, a small digital-technology company based in Louisville, Ky. The congressman has been influential on African issues in his years in the House.
Jefferson was found guilty of 11 out of 16 counts charges of bribery-related crimes. The jurors rejected defense assertions that Mr. Jefferson’s business-promotion activities in Africa did not qualify as ‘official acts’ under public corruption laws.
Mr. Jefferson led official delegations to Africa, wrote letters to American and foreign officials and had members of his staff promote ventures in which he had a financial interest, the prosecutors maintained. The ventures were in Nigeria, Ghana and Equatorial Guinea. While he sought millions of dollars in bribes, Mr. Jefferson may have actually received less than $400,000, the government said.
The government’s case relied in part on former Jefferson aides and business associates who pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against him. Mr. Jefferson did not testify in his own defense, and Judge Ellis cautioned the jurors that they were not to hold that decision against the defendant. Mr. Jefferson faces a long prison term, unless his conviction is overturned on appeal.
As it unfolded over several years, the Jefferson case set off a government battle of constitutional proportions. In May 2006, federal agents raided Mr. Jefferson’s Congressional office, the first time that the office of a sitting member of Congress had been searched, leading to an outcry from some Republicans, as well as Democrats.
In June 2006, House Democrats voted to remove Mr. Jefferson from the Ways and Means Committee until his case was resolved. Even at that, the investigation became an embarrassment for a party trying to make Republican ethical lapses, a major issue in the fall campaign. Jefferson’s constituents were less disturbed, however, and he was reelected in November. His support faltered in 2008. He lost his seat to a Republican lawyer, Anh Cao, on December 7 in an election that was delayed because of Hurricane Gustav.
In other hand, Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar has applauded the judgment of the jury in the US which convicted former congressman, William Jefferson, of bribery and corruption but acquitted him on the charge of planning to compromise Atiku.
“The United States government was unable to prove a bribe scheme involving Atiku because none ever existed. Atiku Abubakar was another victim of Jefferson’s scheming. Under the corrupt foreign practices act, and in accordance with the judge’s instructions, the jury could have found Jefferson guilty of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act merely by making an offer of payment to the vice president. The money in the freezer spoke for itself—this case has nothing to do with the former vice president.”
In a statement issued by the Atiku media office in Abuja, Abubakar said the acquittal of Jefferson on the charge of bribery vindicates his position over the years that he never had any improper relationship with the former congressman.
“I have consistently maintained that I had no improper relationship with former Congressman Jefferson. My relationship with him was purely official and it was in an effort to attract foreign investors to Nigeria.
“Congressman Jefferson was chairman of the House Committee on Nigeria and the request to meet him came from the Nigerian Embassy. His proposal for investment in the Nigerian communications sector was passed to the minister of Communications.
“I am glad that the judgment has confirmed that I had no improper relationship with him. God has shamed the devil and cleared the innocent.
“The judgment has also finally unraveled one of the biggest conspiracies in Nigeria’s political history, the plot to humiliate me and to stop me from contesting the 2007 presidential election. It is now clear that, that plot was hatched at the highest level of the Nigerian government then in collusion with foreign agencies.
“The plot was not just to stop me from running for the presidency, it was aimed at denying the Nigerian people the right to choose their own leaders.
“In Wednesday’s judgment, the jury acquitted Jefferson on the allegation of ‘violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act’. Jefferson had allegedly been caught on tape discussing with his business partner, Lori Mody, about the possibility of bribing Nigerian Vice President, Abubakar and other Nigerian officials. The charge included transfer from Mody of $100,000 that Jefferson said was intended as a bribe to Nigerian Vice President Abubakar.
“Jefferson denied the charge during trial. He admitted collecting the $100,000 from US businesswoman, Mody, but said it was to placate a woman who desperately wanted the business to succeed. Atiku had also consistently denied the charge, saying no discussion about money or bribe featured during his brief meeting with Congressman Jefferson in Maryland.
“Jefferson had been quoted by the FBI as telling businesswoman Mody that he handed over the ‘African Art’, (taken to mean the money) to Atiku during a meeting. The FBI had raided Atiku’s wife’s residence in Maryland on the strength of the claim but the agency found no money.
“Of the $100,000, a total of $90,000 was found hidden in the freezer at the residence of Jefferson . Another $5,000 of the amount had been given out by Jefferson to one of his staff who had financial difficulties.
“The vice president strongly believes in and is committed to the rule of law and an independent judiciary as pillars of democracy. Vice President Abubakar appreciates the jury’s thoughtful consideration of the evidence presented and expresses his continuing confidence in the US, judicial system.”
The judgment on Wednesday has finally brought to a close this highly politicized case of a troubled Congressman ensnaring everyone he came in contact with.
