Former Louisiana congressman and the man who put the term cold-cash into practice, literally speaking, is finally headed to prison. William Jefferson, 62, who represented Louisiana New Orleans 2nd District for more than 18 years, was convicted on 11 of 16 counts charge, including bribery, racketeering and money laundering; in a case in which federal agents found $90,000 cash stuffed in his freezer. He was accused of accepting more than $400,000 in bribes and seeking millions more in exchange for brokering business deals in Africa. Jefferson who has been under investigation since March 2005, had his Washington home searched by FBI agents in August 2005; wherein they found, wrapped in foils and hidden in boxes of frozen pie crust in his freezer, a stash of cash totalling $90,000! A case of cold cash brought to live, one may say? Icheoku says, for freezing out Benjamins, a 17th count of "intentionally causing hypothermia to Benji" should have been added to his charges? It is heartless to keep Benjamins in sub-zero temperature and for that long; as a Benjamin is happier when crisp, minty, and spendable but not stashed in a cold freezer! William Jefferson will be sentenced on October 30, 2009 and could spend whatever is left of his natural life, caged in prison. 
According to one observer, "no person, not even a congressman, is above the law;" to which Icheoku says, except that person is such a congressman in a place like Nigeria. A country where certain people are beyond reproach and above the law; including the alleged partner-in-crime of William Jefferson's bribery, former Nigeria's Vice President Abubakar Atiku? If William Jefferson were to be a Nigerian in high office, he would have been celebrated by some for getting his share of the national cake, and scolded by others for not taking enough and for so little? If in doubt, recall Halliburton's $180 million dollars bribery to Nigerian government officials as well as the SIEMENS $12 million dollars bribery to a few individuals including Senator Jubril Aminu, chairman Nigeria Senate Foreign Relations committee? To William Jefferson, Icheoku says, you are a disgrace to your family, constituency, State of Louisiana, the politicial class and the United States Congress! Have a nice stay at the big house.
According to one observer, "no person, not even a congressman, is above the law;" to which Icheoku says, except that person is such a congressman in a place like Nigeria. A country where certain people are beyond reproach and above the law; including the alleged partner-in-crime of William Jefferson's bribery, former Nigeria's Vice President Abubakar Atiku? If William Jefferson were to be a Nigerian in high office, he would have been celebrated by some for getting his share of the national cake, and scolded by others for not taking enough and for so little? If in doubt, recall Halliburton's $180 million dollars bribery to Nigerian government officials as well as the SIEMENS $12 million dollars bribery to a few individuals including Senator Jubril Aminu, chairman Nigeria Senate Foreign Relations committee? To William Jefferson, Icheoku says, you are a disgrace to your family, constituency, State of Louisiana, the politicial class and the United States Congress! Have a nice stay at the big house.
I learnt that Nigeria's former vice president Abubakar Atiku is celebrating Jefferson's acquittal on foreign corruption, which impliedly exonerated his alleged complicity. But what Atiku does not know is that not finding Jefferson guilty of that count does not mean it did not happen; except that it was not proved beyond reasonable doubt. In any civilized society such as the United States of America, the treshold of culpability is always very high hence exculpatory circumstance always operates in favor of the accused. So Jefferson not being convicted on the count that implicated Atiku only means that it was not proved; but does not in any way suggests that Atiku did not partake in the bribery. So Atiku save your panting breath as you have been finished politically in Nigeria, especially with that infamous visit to Otta. Meanwhile, Icheoku, we enjoy your hard-charging takes on world issues; thank you for braving to say what many others mute in the recesses of their hearts. - idris olukayode (Indonesia)
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