SENIOR NIGERIAN CORRUPTION TRIAL POSTPONED

UNCLAS ABUJA 001832

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM NI
SUBJECT: SENIOR NIGERIAN CORRUPTION TRIAL POSTPONED
AGAIN

REF: ABUJA 1074


1. The high-profile corruption case brought against
five senior ex-GON officials, including the Labor
Minister sacked over the scandal, by the Independent
Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) was postponed to
December 9, 2004. After numerous delays and
postponements, the trial had been scheduled for October
27, but court clerks explained that the trial judge had
been unable to book a flight to Abuja from Port
Harcourt.


2. Meanwhile, Sagem, the French firm accused of
bribing the five officials to win the national ID card
contract, has continued to fulfill its contractual
obligations, despite the scandal. Sagem, however, has
threatened to pull out of Nigeria by the end of 2004 if
the GON does not pay its outstanding Naira 9 billion
(US$68 million) balance promptly.

CAMPBELL