NIGERIA: IBORI ASSOCIATE APPOINTED TO PRESIDENT'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001550 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA DOE FOR GEORGE PERSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL KCOR KCRIM NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: IBORI ASSOCIATE APPOINTED TO PRESIDENT'S OFFICE REF: ABUJA 1331 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Cheryl Fernandes for reasons 1.4. (b & d). ¶1. (C) Summary. Internet news site Sahara Reporters broke the news on July 31 that former Delta State Governor James Ibori's former Commissioner of Finance David Edevbie was appointed Principal Secretary to President Umaru Yar'Adua. Ibori (as reported reftels) is under investigation in Nigeria and the UK on corruption and moneylaundering charges. With a prior background in banking, Edevbie is believed to have orchestrated Ibori's looting of the Delta State treasury. The appointment has fueled suspicions that former Governor Ibori remains powerful within the new Administration and again brings into question Yar'Adua's commitment to fighting corruption within his own inner circle. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) On August 6, Special Advisor to the President for Communications Olusegun Adeniyi confirmed earlier press reports of David Edevbie's appointment as Principal Secretary to the President. Adeniyi told PASAssistant an official announcement would be made on August 11, along with an announcement of the reassignment of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Baba Kura Kaigama to Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President. ¶3. (C) David Edevbie served as Commissioner of Finance (FYI: "Commissioner" is the title given to the heads of Ministries in Nigerian state governments. End FYI) and later Chief Economic Advisor to former Delta State Governor James Ibori from 1999 to 2007. Prior to this, he worked for Barclays Bank in London and Hill Samuel (a U.K. Merchant Bank) in corporate finance. Edevbie reportedly used his banking background and his position as Commissioner of Finance to help Ibori launder moneys embezzled from the State. (Comment: Ibori is currently facing charges of money laundering in Nigeria and the U.K. Press reports allege the British Metropolitan Police have evidence Ibori laundered more than BPS20 million ($39 million US) through accounts in Barclays and other British banks in 2005-2006. Our contacts at the U.K. High Commission could not comment on the investigation, but told us they believe Edevbie may be on the list of persons of interest with regard to the Ibori investigation. End Comment.) Edevbie served as a member of Yar'Adua's presidential campaign team in 2007, and, according to multiple observers is believed to have acted as a conduit for channeling Ibori's money into Yar'Adua's campaign. ¶4. (C) The post of Principal Secretary to the President is usually given to a trusted friend and close confidant of the President. A former Villa employee told PolAssistant that the position "is very strategic in policy inputs and outcomes of the Administration." In addition to administering Yar'Adua's office (a role which should make him one of the main controllers of access to the President),the Principal Secretary attends important meetings -- including the Federal Executive Council and other meetings where key decisions are made. (Comment: While the responsibilities sound similar to those of a Chief of Staff, it is not yet clear how the separate roles of Edevbie and the Chief of Staff will be defined, and how they will compare with those previously exercised by Gen. Mohammed when he was Chief of Staff. End comment.) More information on Edevbie's role is expected in the August 11 announcement. ¶5. (C) Comment: The appointment of Edevbie to a senior position within the Presidency has fueled suspicions that former Delta state Governor Ibori is becoming increasingly powerful within the Yar'Adua administration. Such a development brings Yar'Adua's commitment to fighting corruption within his own inner circle into question. End comment. PIASCIK