NDLEA SAYS IT IS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDING

S E C R E T LAGOS 001738

SIPDIS

DEA FOR OC, OI,OID,OEE,OSE,OIE
SECSTATE FOR INL/LP,AF/W
POST FOR DEA RD AND ARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2010
TAGS: PGOV PINR SNAR NI
SUBJECT: NDLEA SAYS IT IS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDING
COOPERATION

REF: LAGOS 01701 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: DEA ATTACHE SAM GAYE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)



1. (S) In late October, the Nigerian National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) created a special unit, consisting
of 25 agents. The mandate of the new unit was to arrest drug
kingpins, according to unit commander-Gadzama who was also
the NDLEA's top officer in the currently dormant NDLEA/DEA
Joint Task Force.


2. (S) On October 28, the unit searched the residence of
suspected trafficker Onochie Ikenua in the Maryland section
of Lagos. They hit a jackpot. The NDLEA seized 3.2 kilograms
of cocaine, three expensive motor vehicles and undetermined
amount of cash. The NDLEA also seized several bank records
(14 bank accounts),one of which contained a saving deposit
balance of two hundred fifty one millions in Nigerian
currency (USD 1.9 million). The documents also showed Ikenua
with bank accounts in Germany and the UK respectively. A
further investigation revealed Ikenua owned 16 registered
real estate properties in Nigeria, one valued at USD 10
million.


3. (S) On October 31, upon hearing about the arrest, DEA
Lagos met NDLEA Chairman Bello lafiaji and requested to
assist with the investigation. Bello and his top aides
diverted discussion about the arrest. Bello then informed CA
Gaye that he was suspending counter narcotics cooperation
with DEA until there could be a meeting with President
Obasanjo during which Bello could defend his agency's record.
Bello claimed that he was taking this task because the U.S.
Ambassador and British High Commissioner previously had
raised concerns with President Obasanjo about the NDLEA's
performance. Bello now complained that the entire NDLEA staff
was "demoralized" due to these actions. The meeting was
adjourned.


4. (S) Ikenua and his vehicles were released. We do not know
the full details of his release. Subsequently, the special
unit that had effected the arrest was dissolved.


5. (S) Ikenua was previously arrested twice and convicted
once by the NDLEA under Bello's predecessor. Under Nigerian
law, he should not be entiled bail.


6. (S) On November 4, DEA Attache wrote a letter to the
NDLEA, requesting to participate in the investigation of
Ikenua and interview him. According to an NDLEA source,
Ikenua was returned to his jail cell because the "Americans"
had found out about the arrest and wanted to interview him.
In response to the DEA letter, the NDLEA has arranged an
interview with the suspect for November 8.


7. (S) The Mission will raise Bello's refusal to cooperate
with the appropriate GON senior officials.
BROWNE