In response to news that three directors of VMobile Nigeria have been formally charged with corruption, Strive Masiyiwa, chief executive of Econet Wireless Nigeria Ltd., said Tuesday he felt "vindicated".

?The decision by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria to charge the three directors of VMobile (formally Econet Wireless Nigeria) is a full vindication of my stance that some of the local shareholders had been involved in serious corruption,? Masiyiwa says.

The charges were laid on Friday, after a four-month investigation by the EFCC initiated by President Obasanjo, following the abrupt withdrawal of Vodacom SA from Econet Wireless Nigeria.

?Despite a concerted effort to intimidate me and attempts to silence me through the SA courts I have always maintained my position that all was not above board in the dealings at VMobile,? Masiyiwa says.

In conclusion he notes: ?My company submitted over 2,000 pages of documentary evidence to the EFCC, and I have now accepted a request by the EFCC to be a state witness in the case, as have several executives from my company. I look forward to finally seeing the truth come out and justice being done.?

?I also commend the Nigerian government and the EFCC for the professional manner in which it undertook its investigations. This is a clear signal to the international community that the Nigerian government is serious in its bid to stamp out corruption in this country,? he concludes.