NIGERIA TO IDENTIFY ACCOUNTS HELD BY ADDITIONAL

UNCLAS ABUJA 002828 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCOR PTER EFIN PREL NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA TO IDENTIFY ACCOUNTS HELD BY ADDITIONAL FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS REF: (A) STATE 192004 (B) ABUJA 2793 ¶1. EconOff delivered Ref A information November 5 to Ernest Ebi, Deputy Governor for International Operations at the Central Bank of Nigeria. Ebi agreed to add the list of 22 organizations to an amended Call Circular, which requires all banks to identify accounts associated with these terrorist entities. However, Ebi commented, the decision to freeze accounts of entities not directly connected with the September 11 attacks would be a political decision made by President Obasanjo. ¶2. Ebi was pleased to report that, as of November 2, 50 of Nigeria's 89 banks had responded to the CBN Call Circular issued October 8 and amended October 17. The Circular required all banks to identify and report on any accounts associated with the 66 entities pursuant to the September 23 Executive Order and other designations by the Secretaries of State and Treasury. None of the 50 respondent banks found terrorist-related accounts. Ebi has agreed to full disclosure of any information uncovered through the CBN's investigation. Andrews