NIGERIA: FORMER EFCC OFFICIALS DEMOTED,

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001551

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA
DOE FOR GEORGE PERSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL EFIN KCOR KCRM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: FORMER EFCC OFFICIALS DEMOTED,
QUESTIONED, ARRESTED

REF: ABUJA 1331

Classified By: A/DCM Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b & d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. There have been three separate actions taken
this week against former officials of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Press reported on August
6 that members of the State Security Service (SSS) visited
the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies
(NIPPS) to arrest former EFCC Chairman Nuhu Ribadu. CDA
spoke to Ribadu twice on August 6; he reported he was not
arrested but was asked to appear for questioning at SSS
headquarters on August 7. On August 5, 140 police officers,
including Nuhu Ribadu, were demoted, allegedly because their
promotions did not follow due process. As well, former Head
of the EFCC Economic Governance Unit Ibrahim Magu was
arrested on August 4, following allegations that police
discovered EFCC files and a computer containing classified
documents at his Abuja residence. Magu's Economic Governance
Unit led the EFCC investigations into corrupt governors,
including former Delta Governor James Ibori and current
Governor Bukola Saraki. Magu is a recipient of USG and
London Metropolitan Police institute training. The three
incidents, occurring in the space of just two days, are
leading critics to question the Yar'Adua administration's
commitment to fighting corruption. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Three separate incidents involving former officials of
the EFCC have occurred over the span of just two days. On
August 4, members of the SSS reportedly visited the NIPPS to
arrest former EFCC Chairman Nuhu Ribadu. (Note: Ribadu has
been attending executive training at NIPPS since December
2007). CDA spoke to Ribadu twice on August 6. Early on
August 6 when CDA spoke to Ribadu, he reported he had not
been arrested but could not talk as he was in a meeting. CDA
noted that Ribadu and those around him were laughing and
seemed in good spirits. CDA spoke to Ribadu again late in
the day and he confirmed that he had not been arrested.
Ribadu said he was asked to report to SSS headquarters in
Abuja August 7 for further questioning, which he plans to do.
He told CDA he does not feel he is in imminent danger of
arrest.


3. (C) On August 5, the Nigerian Police Service Commission
(PSC) announced the demotion of 140 police officers, alleging
that their promotions did not follow due process. Among
those demoted was former EFCC Chairman Ribadu, who was
demoted from Assistant Inspector General to Deputy
Commissioner -- a two-step demotion. The PSC maintains that
the promotions were not based on established criteria
(including seniority, merit, time in rank, completion of
promotion course, and passing of a promotion exam) and were a
breach of the 1999 Constitution and the Police Service
Commission Act. Ribadu told CDA on August 6 he plans to keep
quiet and not challenge the demotion, although he does not
feel it is justified. Secretary to the EFCC Emmanuel Akomaye
told Poloff on August 6 that the demotions were initiated and
carried out within the Police, not by the EFCC, and that the
EFCC could not comment on police matters. Akomaye maintained
that Ribadu was the only name on the list with a connection
to the EFCC. (Note: Names of several other high-ranking
police officials who were demoted were included in press
reports. None of the other names were immediately known to
the Mission. We will, however, continue to check on the
composition of the list. End Note.)


4. (C) On August 4, former EFCC Economic Governance Unit Head
Ibrahim Magu was reportedly arrested following searches of
his Abuja and Lagos residences which reportedly found EFCC
case files and a computer with classified information. Magu
was redeployed from the EFCC to the Police force on July 4
(reftel) and was serving as Chief Superintendent at Ado,
Ekiti State at the time of his arrest. Although press
reports alleged the EFCC carried out the arrest, EFCC
Secretary Akomaye told Poloff on August 6 that the
investigation, search and arrest were all handled within the
Police and that the EFCC (once again) could not comment on
police matters. Meanwhile, EFCC Chief of External Relations
Mohammed Bamalli (strictly protect),a trusted Embassy

contact within the EFCC, told Poloff he knows Magu well and
cannot believe that Magu, whom he termed a "skilled
professional," would keep files at home. Bamalli told Poloff
he plans to meet Magu late on August 6 and will relay what he
learns to Poloff. Post will report any information from
Bamalli septel.


5. (C) Comment. The confluence of events in the course of a
few days, with the appointment of Ibori's former Commissioner
of Finance as Principal Secretary to the President, the
questioning of Ribadu, Ribadu's demotion and Magu's arrest,
does not bode well for the Administration's commitment to
fighting corruption. The thread that runs through all of
them is former Delta Governor James Ibori, the target of
major corruption and money laundering probes by the EFCC and
British Metropolitan police. Ibori was believed by many to
be the driving force behind Ribadu's removal from the EFCC
and Waziri's appointment. Antony Goldman, independent energy
consultant and former Economist Financial Intelligence Unit
Africa Analyst, told Poloff a few weeks ago that, during a
recent phone conversation, a cheerful Ibori commented that
"Ribadu will be in jail before I ever will be." End Comment.
PIASCIK