Former Executive Guilty of Bribing Nigerian Government

In an announcement by the FBI, the subsidiary of Houston based Willbros Group Inc. has a former executive that is pleading guilty to bribing officials in the Nigerian government. The bribery funds totaled over $6 million, and the bribery is against the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

The accused, Jason Edward Steph, age 37, is a U.S. citizen living in Sunset, Texas. He pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in front of Judge Sim Lake. Steph was the senior executive in charge of WGI's international business.

Steph confessed that he, two consultants working for Willbros International Inc., and employees of a Nigerian based German engineering company, decided to bribe Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation with payments totaling an amount of $6 million. The payments were offered to the petroleum corporation, which is a state owned oil company, and its subsidiary, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, which is a political party. A senior official of the Nigerian federal government's executive branch was also involved in the taking of the bribe money. The purpose of the bribe was to help gain a gas pipeline construction contract.

Steph also stated that, in 2005, he, former executive Jim Bob Brown, and other individuals set up a payment of around $1.8 million to Nigerian government officials. Brown pleaded guilty to charges concerning this matter in 2006.

The cooperation of Steph in regards to these charges and the continuing investigation are part of his plea agreement. Conspiring to violate the FCPA brings a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Steph's sentencing is scheduled for January 25, 2008.