NIGERIA: DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH EFCC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002381

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL EFIN KDEM KCOR KCRIM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH EFCC
CHAIR RIBADU

Classified By: CDA Lisa Piascik for reasons 1.4. (b & d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. In his meeting with Deputy Secretary
Negroponte and AF A/S Frazer, Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) Chairman Malam Nuhu Ribadu expressed
appreciation for USG backing for the EFCC and asked for
continued public and material support. Ribadu expressed
single-minded determination to continue to extend the EFCC,s
reach downward to the state and local levels, linking good
governance and transparency at these levels directly to
progress on democracy and fair elections. Ribadu thanked the
Deputy Secretary for his visit to the organization -- the
highest in the history of the EFCC -- and said it sends a
clear message of U.S. support for Nigeria's reforms. The
Deputy Secretary praised the EFCC for its hard work and
reiterated the U.S. commitment to working with Nigeria to
fight corruption and build democracy. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) In a November 12 meeting between Deputy Secretary of
State John Negroponte, AF A/S Frazer and Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Malam Nuhu
Ribadu, both sides expressed their commitment to ongoing
cooperation in fighting corruption and supporting Nigeria's
democratic development. Chairman Ribadu thanked the Deputy
S ecretary for the U.S. support received to date and noted
that the EFCC considers the U.S. to be a mentor and an
example in the fight against corruption. Corruption, Ribadu
noted, is the root cause of poverty and insecurity in Africa
with poor leadership and mismanagement at the heart of
Africa's (and Nigeria's) current problems.

EFCC - A VEHICLE FOR CHANGE
--------------

3. (C) Ribadu praised the role the EFCC has played over the
past 4-5 years in fighting corruption and, as he saw it,
reforming Nigerian politics. He told the Deputy Secretary
that even Yar'Adua is a product of Nigeria's reforms, calling
him "a break in the cycle" of corruption. Ribadu described
Yar'Adua as a humble man, not an "African big man." This
same culture of humble servant and accountability has also
emerged, according to Ribadu, in the new National Assembly
and state governors. Ribadu characterized the current set of
governors as "far, far better than the last administration."
Despite these improvements, however, the EFCC continues to
follow "every cent" of GON spending and Ribadu noted the EFCC
had previously detected money being taken out of the National
Assembly budget and had taken action. The current levels of
fiscal responsibility, budget transparency, and national
savings (both in reserves and the stabilization fund) are
only possible, he maintained, because of the EFCC's work.
Ribadu told the Deputy Secretary that in 2005 more than 10
billion USD was taken out of the country; however, after the
arrest in the UK of two former governors more than 10 billion
USD of capital returned to Nigeria in 2006. He attributed
the boom in the capital market, communication and banking
sectors to this increased capital inflow.


4. (C) Ribadu was hopeful that the reach of the EFCC and its
influence on good governance would continue to move farther
down in governmental structures toward the local levels. In
response to the Deputy Secretary's query about state and
local level activities, Ribadu noted that investigations are
ongoing in several states, some already resulting in
prosecutions, and that more than 100 local government areas
(out of 774) have been investigated. According to Ribadu,
the recent passage of the Fiscal Accountability Law will help
to bring positive change to state and local government by
increasing accountability and transparency. He admitted much
more needs to be done at the local level, but said at present
the EFCC is focused on "big corruption." Ribadu recognizes,
however, that fighting corruption at all levels is the only
way to bring about good governance and pave the way for free
and fair elections. He characterized corruption in Nigeria
as "endemic" and said strong enforcement of the rule of law
is the only way to address it at all levels.

CURRENT EFCC ACTIVITIES
--------------

5. (C) Ribadu noted three specific EFCC activities as

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vehicles for change in Nigeria: the National Financial
Intelligence Center (NFIU),the Nigerian Extractive
Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the Fix
Nigeria program. Ribadu praised the NFIU, expressing
appreciation for the support of the U.S. Department of
Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN). The
NFIU, he said, has for the first time compiled a strong data
system for profiling criminal activities in the financial
sector. The ability to understand and monitor the financial
sector on an individual transaction basis has been a lynchpin
in the fight against various types of criminal activities.
Ribadu characterized the NEITI as a first for Nigeria, noting
the intrinsic value of tracking the performance of actors in
the oil industry. Ribadu commended the Deputy Secretary on
the performance of U.S. companies in the oil industry,
stating they are among the best in Nigeria at bringing best
practices and transparency into the market place. Ribadu
praised the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the
transparent behavior it encourages in U.S. companies.
Lastly, in response to the Deputy Secretary's question about
involvement of civil society, Ribadu explained that the
EFCC's Fix Nigeria initiative, a joint initiative with the
U.N. Development Program (UNDP) and civil society, designs
school curriculums and materials, supports public education
and enlists the assistance of religious leaders in the fight
against corruption, aiming to change the cultural perception
of corruption.

ASSISTANCE FROM THE U.S. -- WHAT EFCC REALLY NEEDS
-------------- --------------

6. (C) The Deputy Secretary praised the EFCC for its hard
work and determination to provide a better future for
Nigeria. He reiterated the U.S. commitment to support
Nigeria in its fight against corruption and toward good
governance and democracy. Ribadu thanked the Deputy
S ecretary for the U.S. support received to date. In
particular, he noted the more than 30 training sessions
provided by the Departments of Treasury and Justice. Ribadu
emphasized that the U.S. has a critical role to play in
fighting corruption in Nigeria. Specifically, he said the
U.S. must insist that reforms continue and he asked for basic
assistance in the form of equipment and technology. Ribadu
thanked the Deputy Secretary for his visit and noted that his
was the highest level visit ever to the EFCC offices and
sends a clear message of U.S. support for reform. Ribadu
said the EFCC needs basic equipment and technology to "help
us survive," including: armored cars, body armor,
communications gear, and technology for real-time recording
of financial transactions. He noted the recent establishment
of a National Forensics Laboratory (with U.S. support) and
current efforts to establish a National Crime Data Center
(with EU support). The Deputy Secretary told Ribadu he would
encourage the USG to give the EFCC every support possible,
noting again the positive work the Commission is doing. He
indicated we would explore the possibility of further visits
from Treasury and other agencies in the future.


7. (SBU) Participants:

U.S.
The Deputy Secretary
A/S Jendayi Frazer
CDA Lisa Piascik
Ted Wittenstein, D Staff
Embassy Notetaker

Nigeria
EFCC Chairman Malam Nuhu Ribadu
EFCC Secretary to the Commission Emmanuel Akomaye
EFCC Chief of External Relations Ibrahim Mohammed
EFCC Chief of Staff Dapo Olorunyomi


8. (U) The Deputy Secretary's staff has cleared this message.
PIASCIK