NIGERIA: FORMER EFCC CHAIR RIBADU BRIEFS THE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002249

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W, INL/C, INL/AAE, AND INR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2018
TAGS: PGOV KCOR KCRM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: FORMER EFCC CHAIR RIBADU BRIEFS THE
AMBASSADOR

REF: A. ABUJA 1331

B. SANDERS-DOUGHERTY NOVEMBER 12 EMAIL

Classified By: Ambassador Robin R. Sanders for reasons 1.4. (b & d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. Former EFCC Chair, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, met
with the Ambassador on November 10 at the Ambassador's
residence. (DCM and PolOff attended.) Ribadu criticized the
current state of Nigerian political affairs, blaming
President Yar'Adua for most of the country's woes and
describing him as the most corrupt person in Nigeria. He
extended his criticism to the current EFCC Chair, Farida
Waziri, for conducting what he characterized as cosmetic,
rather than concrete, anti-corruption efforts, which he
believes threaten to undermine the entire organization. He
maintained that Waziri is under considerable political
pressure to scuttle investigations into the activities of 31
former governors. Ribadu claimed that the delay in the
Supreme Court's (SC) ruling on the 2007 presidential
elections is due to the SC justices having to come to grips
with having accepted bribes from Yar'Adua's camp in early
2007 at a time when his health did not threaten the viability
of his presidency. He also expressed concern about the
possibility of a military intervention if the Supreme Court
does not overturn Yar'Adua's election, a possibility Post
considers highly unlikely. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) In a private meeting at the CMR with the Ambassador,
DCM and PolOff (notetaker),former Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Mallam Nuhu Ribadu told the
Ambassador that harassment "was nothing new" to him, given
his former role as EFCC Chair. He expressed concern,
however, about his future in law enforcement. Ribadu claimed
the government is trying to make him leave the Nigerian
Police Force (NPF),pointing as evidence to his August
demotion, possible reassignment to Bayelsa and the fact that
he has not been paid in three months. He also noted a
backlash as a result of his lawsuit to stop the demotion.
Ribadu told the Ambassador that he has exhausted his efforts
to stop the demotion and that his lawsuit is most likely his
last formal protest. Whatever the outcome of his lawsuit,
his resignation is imminent.


3. (C) Ribadu then confided that he is considering leaving
the country, at least temporarily, and that he had been
exploring the possibility of a fellowship with the Global
Development Forum. The Ambassador assured Ribadu that the
USG remains concerned about threats to his personal safety
and encouraged him to remain in contact. He then said that
one month ago shots were fired on his car, downplaying the
incident's characterization as an assassination plot, and
more of an attempt to harass him. (Note: Ribadu showed the
Ambassador, DCM, and PolOff the bullet holes in his vehicle.
End Note.)


4. (C) Ribadu dismissed Waziri's recent statements in the
press claiming that the cases against the 31 former governors
were either too weak. He informed the Ambassador that files
had either gone missing or were purposefully removed after
his departure and the redeployment of his top aides, (former
Director for Operations Ibrahim Lamorde and Lead Investigator
Ibrahim Magu). Ribadu maintained that the combination of
extreme political pressure and poor management is responsible
for any weaknesses that may jeopardize the integrity of
evidence in court. He claimed that Waziri is under
considerable pressure not to prosecute the former governors.
He also depicted the EFCC as a "poorly managed and
disappointing institution" under Waziri's leadership, and
characterized its current anti-corruption efforts as more
cosmetic than real. When asked if Ribadu would respond to
Waziri's invitation to meet on November 14 (septel),he told
the Ambassador that a meeting would serve no purpose other
than dragging his name further through the mud.


5. (S) In response to the Ambassador's request for his views
on the current situation, Ribadu also discussed the current
case before the SC on the 2007 elections. After conveying to
the Ambassador his complete disdain for President Yara'Adua,
at one point saying that he is "praying for his death to come
soon," Ribadu said that before the President's recent health

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crises, there was little chance that the SC would have ruled
against Yar'Adua on the merits of the case, and that the SC
justices - including Chief Justice Kutigi - had accepted
financial inducements prior to the February 2008 Appeals
Court decision upholding the election. He believed this now
made it difficult for them to decide against Yar'Adua despite
his precarious health. (Note: Ribadu said that while he was
EFCC Chair, Chief Justice Kutigi was under investigation for
his role in several financial scandals, including taking
money for the building of the new Appeals Court facility. He
singled out SC Judge Dahiru Mustafa as being firmly in the
Administration's pocket as far as bribes were concerned, and
noted that SC Judge Katsina Alu was upset with both Attorney
General Michael Aondoakaa and Mrs. Waziri for the recent
detention on corruption charges of the chief of staff of
Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, his close friend and ally,
and was looking for a way to strike back, including possibly
ruling against Yar'Adua. End Note.)


6. (S) Ribadu predicted that no matter what the outcome,
there will soon be a new President of Nigeria. He claimed
that if the elections are not annulled, the
northern-dominated military will step in and relieve Yar'Adua
of his presidency, mostly due to concerns regarding the
President's health as well as discontent with the lack of
achievement by his administration. If the elections are
annulled, Ribadu believed that military intervention is also
possible and that Northerners will not allow Vice President
Goodluck Jonathan to take over. He predicted that the choice
will either be between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar,
who is currently being courted by the PDP, or Muhammadu
Buhari, former military leader of Nigeria from 1983-84, who
is known for his "War Against Indiscipline" campaign during
his short 20-month administration. When asked whether the
Independent National Election Commission (INEC) could
competently conduct an election within the 90-day period set
by the Constitution, Ribadu replied that it should not be a
problem with the right leadership and the political will to
do so.


7. (C) COMMENT: Despite claims from Ribadu's former Director
for Operations Ibrahim Lamorde and Lead Investigator Ibrahim
Magu that his life is in danger, Ribadu did not seem as
concerned for his personal safety as his future in Nigeria.


8. (S) With regard to Ribadu's assertion that a military coup
is likely should the Supreme Court uphold Yar'Adua's 2007
election, we note that this directly contradicts what we are
hearing from other political and military sources, but is
something very much on our radar screen to watch for any
signs at any level in that direction. Right now, however, we
do not see this as the most likely or probable scenario. END
COMMENT.


9. (U) This cable is coordinated with Consulate Lagos.
Sanders