EFCC CHAIR ON ADMINISTRATION'S ANTI-CORRUPTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001834

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV ECON KCOR KCRIM SNAR NI
SUBJECT: EFCC CHAIR ON ADMINISTRATION'S ANTI-CORRUPTION
CAMPAIGN

REF: A. ABUJA 1741

B. ABUJA 1255

Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Robert Gribbin for reasons 1.4. (b & d)
.


1. (C) SUMMARY. EFCC Chairman Ribadu told Charge on August
16 that Yar'Adua is committed to investigating corrupt former
officials to send a message that no one is above the law.
Despite GON support, however, Ribadu maintains that the EFCC
is dependent on international donors to fulfill basic needs
of the service. Ribadu described recent moves by the
Attorney General to reign in the powers of the EFCC as
"absurd," alleging that former Governor Ibori, now under
investigation in the U.K. and Nigeria, is behind the plot.
Yar'Adua's backing down on the AG's request for greater
oversight of the EFCC could be a sign of his commitment to an
anti-corruption agenda; however, some fear it is simply a
product of a decision-making style that relies most heavily
on whomever he has spoken to last. Ribadu also offered his
opinion on acting Inspector General of Police Okiro, making
it clear there is no love lost between the two. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Charge paid a courtesy call on Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Malam Nuhu Ribadu on August
16 to discuss the Yar'Adua administration's anti-corruption
efforts and recent moves by the Attorney General to reign in
the powers of the EFCC (Ref. A). Ribadu described the GON's
anti-corruption efforts since the establishment of the EFCC
in 2003 as a "quiet revolution." The Yar'Adua government, he
contended, is committed to investigating corrupt former
government officials as a form of deterrent to those
currently in office and to send a message that no one is
above the law. He said Yar'Adua had promised not to
interfere in EFCC investigations.

FORMER GOVERNOR IBORI SCHEMES AGAINST EFCC
--------------

3. (C) Ribadu called the recent move by the Attorney General
(AG) to gain control over EFCC cases and prosecutions (Ref.
A) "absurd," alleging that the AG "allowed himself to be
used." Ribadu maintained that the plot was hatched by former
Governor James Ibori (Delta State) in response to the EFCC's
role in an investigation by London Metropolitan Police which
resulting in the freezing of $35 million of Ibori's assets.
(COMMENT: Internet reporting site Sahara Reporters ran a
story on August 11 which correlates fact-for-fact with
Ribadu's statements to the Charge. The "security source"
cited by Sahara Reporters may, in fact, be Ribadu himself.
END COMMENT.) According to Ribadu, Ibori reached out to
several other former governors currently under investigation
and paid the Chief Publisher of "This Day" newspaper, Nduka
Obaigbena, to lobby Yar'Adua for the change. The current AG
and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakar, an attorney who
has represented former Vice President Atiku and several of
the former governors now battling corruption charges, was
reportedly glad to participate in the plan.


4. (C) Obaigbena and the AG then reportedly reached out to
the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),led by Olisa Agbakoba, to
turn the issue into a question of constitutional mandate.
The NBA allegedly drafted the letter from the AG requesting
that the President give the AG authority over the
investigations and prosecutions of the EFCC and other
anti-corruption bodies. The letter from the AG to Yar'Adua
was timed to coincide with Ribadu's trip to his home in Yola
State. Upon hearing the news, Ribadu says he returned to
Abuja and met with Yar'Adua, making his case for continued
independence. Yar'Adua overturned his previous decision, and
public statements were made backtracking on the announced
placing of EFCC activities under the AG.

EFCC DEPENDENT ON INTERNATIONAL DONORS
--------------

5. (SBU) Ribadu thanked the USG for support of the
Commission, noting that officers have attended approximately
30 training sessions in the U.S. since the Commission was
established. He stressed, however, that the EFCC remains
dependent on outside support to fulfill fundamental needs of
the service. He hopes U.S. support will continue in the
future, and noted that international donor support has made
possible the establishment of the EFCC's regional offices.

ABUJA 00001834 002 OF 002


Ribadu outlined EFCC plans for building cross-cutting
national databases for information sharing within the police
and security services, as well as an EFCC forensics lab
currently under construction.

YAR'ADUA'S COMMITMENT - RHETORIC OR ACTION?
--------------

6. (C) COMMENT. It appears based on the rhetoric emanating
from the President's office, as well as what we're hearing
from contacts both within and outside the GON, that Yar'Adua
may well be strongly committed to improving the fight against
corruption. What is less clear, however, is whether he has
the strength of character to take on the big boys of corrupt
Nigerian politics. That Yar'Adua initially agreed to the
EFCC submission and then later changed his mind, could be
indicative of his willingness to hear opposition and make a
stand. On the other hand, it could just as easily be a sign
of what we have heard described as "serial decision making"
-- meaning that he is influenced most by whomever has spoken
to him last. That the EFCC will remain in charge of their
own investigations and prosecutions is a positive outcome,
but the motivations behind Yar'Adua's decisions are just as
important as the outcome. Whether he has the personal
strength to carry out his plans in the face of opposition
will be the true test of his administration.


7. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED. On the way out, when INL Officer
asked Ribadu if he thought Acting Inspector General of Police
(IGP) Mike Okiro would be confirmed, the EFCC boss replied
emphatically, "I hope not!" Okiro, it will be remembered,
almost immediately upon taking office accused his
predecessor, Sunday Ehindero, of corruption and malfeasance
(Ref. B). Although the scandal has dissipated and Ehindero
ostensibly exonerated, Ribadu is an Ehindero protege, and the
EFCC was uncharacteristically silent while Ehindero was being
investigated. The two served together when Ehindero was
Lagos State Police Commissioner in the mid-1990s and Ribadu
allegedly was the former IGP's pick to succeed him. Rumors
abound that Yar'Adua may retire Okiro and the entire Nigerian
police force leadership and Ribadu may still covet the IGP
position. Even if not, there clearly is no love lost between
him and his mentor's antagonist. END COMMENT.
GRIBBIN