Report: Nissan May Oust Ghosn Whistleblower

Nissan Motor Co. is likely to force the resignation this week of Hari Nada, a lawyer closely associated with ousted Chairman Carlos Ghosn, sources tell Bloomberg News.

Nada (pictured) is a key whistleblower in charges last November that claim Ghosn is guilty of financial crimes. But Nada also has been implicated in a more recent scandal involving executive compensation that led to the resignation of CEO Hiroto Saikawa last month.

Bloomberg’s sources say Nada is cooperating with Japanese prosecutors in their case against Ghosn under a plea bargain deal. The sources also say the effort to remove Nada is supported by Renault SA, which owns 43% of Nissan.

A Nissan spokesperson insists that Nada “has no reason to leave” and will continue at the company. But Bloomberg’s sources say Nissan’s board may decide as soon as tomorrow to force him out.

Nada joined Nissan more than 20 years ago. He had been working closely with the office of the CEO and with Greg Kelly, a Nissan board member who was arrested separately last November on charges similar to those leveled against Ghosn.