TAKE LALONG 'WAY HOME: PLATEAU STATE SPEAKER NO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001366

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2014
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM NI
SUBJECT: TAKE LALONG 'WAY HOME: PLATEAU STATE SPEAKER NO
LONGER "WANTED" BY POLICE

REF: ABUJA 1318

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR JAMES MAXSTADT FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) A
ND (D)


1. (C) Suspended Plateau State House of Assembly Speaker
Simon Lalong called Poloff to say that he had turned himself
in to the Police Commissioner in Jos, who had announced that
Lalong was "wanted" (reftel). The commissioner apologized
and said it was "all a big misunderstanding." Lalong said he
is free to go home or travel without restrictions. Comment:
Media coverage of the commissioner's original announcement
included speculation that the GON was trying to intimidate
Lalong into dropping his legal challenges to the State of
Emergency (SOE). If this had been the strategy, media
exposure likely prompted a quick change of those plans. End
Comment.


2. (C) Lalong also told Poloff that the Abuja High Court had
rescheduled from July 29 to September 16 the Plateau state
Assembly members' lawsuit against their suspension. Comment:
The six-month SOE is scheduled to expire November 18. Given
the slow pace of Nigeria's court system, justice delayed is
likely to be justice no longer relevant. End Comment.
CAMPBELL