NIGERIA: ICE ATTACHE REACHES OUT TO ANTI-TIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002296 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2017 TAGS: PHUM PGOV KTIP ASEC DS NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: ICE ATTACHE REACHES OUT TO ANTI-TIP ORGANIZATIONS REF: ABUJA 2200 Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b & d). ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency conducted a Bulk Cash Smuggling Workshop November 10-13 in Abuja. On November 12 and 13, ICE Attach Lydia St. John and Poloff met with representatives from the American Bar Association (ABA),the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP),the NGO Women Trafficking and Child Labor Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF),the International Organization for Migration (IOM),and UNICEF to sensitize local groups to ICE's mandate as well as areas where ICE could potentially offer assistance in addressing human trafficking. St. John informed interlocutors about ICE's ability to assist with investigations of trafficking in persons cases if a nexus to the United States was discovered. St. John also offered possible workshops and speakers on financial investigations and victim assistance, to which all interlocutors were receptive. NAPTIP stated that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the National Policy for Assistance to Victims of Trafficking, as well as the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) National Action Plan. We believe, however, that NAPTIP needs to have implementation plans in place if it is to make real headway against human trafficking. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) ABA: During a November 12 meeting, ICE Attach Lydia St. John (accompanied by Poloff) informed Yinka Lawal and Anne Ikpeme, Senior Staff Attorneys for the ABA's Africa Rule of Law Initiative (ROLI),of her ability to assist with TIP investigations if a connection to the United States were discovered. Lawal said he was hopeful that such collaboration would increase the number of high-level convictions. St. John also explained how the U.S. handles victims of trafficking when rescued in the U.S. In response, Lawal expressed specific interest in a potential ICE speaker attending a future workshop hosted by ABA to focus specifically on victim/witness protection and assistance. St. John said that ICE would send a speaker if invited. ¶3. (C) NAPTIP: On November 13, St. John and Poloff met with NAPTIP Director of Investigations and Monitoring, Muhammed Babandede, to discuss possible collaboration on future investigations and technical assistance. St. John encouraged Babandede to reach out to ICE if NAPTIP ever came across a link to the United States in the course of an investigation. Stressing that it could be something as simple as an American phone number, St. John said ICE would be able to use its resources to collaborate with NAPTIP officials in building a case and arresting suspects if they were located in the U.S. Babandede said he believed he had some case files containing such links to the U.S. and would email the information to St. John immediately. Highlighting NAPTIP's work with other countries such as France, Italy, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, Babandede said the only way to get to the "kingpins" of TIP organizations was through international cooperation. Noting that the people trafficking humans are likely the same people who are trafficking drugs and weapons, St. John stressed the importance of crippling these criminal organizations by freezing and seizing their assets. Lamenting a lack of capacity, Babandede requested technical assistance with financial investigations, specifically tracing assets. Babandede also inquired about the U.S. policy on Witness Protection, noting that on November 12 the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the National Policy for Assistance to Victims of Trafficking. St. John offered assistance in both areas through workshops and seminars. Babandede enthusiastically stated that he would include such seminars in his work plan for 2009. Babandede added that the federal government had finally begun to acknowledge the gravity of TIP when the FEC approved the National Action Plan on TIP on August 20; but that no implementation strategies were yet in place. ¶4. (C) WOTCLEF: During a November 13 meeting with St. John and Poloff, Veronica Umaru, National Coordinator of WOTCLEF explained that WOTCLEF chaired a nationwide working group, ABUJA 00002296 002 OF 002 comprised of anti-TIP NGOs from across Nigeria. Umaru promised to inform member NGOs about ICE and their abilities to investigate traffickers and assist victims in the U.S. St. John informed Umaru that if a trafficking victim was rescued in the U.S., they were allowed to remain indefinitely if they agreed to assist in the investigation of their trafficker. St. John added that the victim's immediate family would also be brought to the U.S. and after three years, the victim would be eligible to apply for permanent residency. If, however, a victim refused to provide any information, they would be deported upon completion of rehabilitation, which could take as long as a year. Umaru, lamenting that Nigeria offered no such protection or provisions, expressed interest in having an ICE representative return to Nigeria to speak on these issues at the next stakeholder's meeting. Umaru then offered to show St. John and Poloff the WOTCLEF shelter which housed 16 young people at the time. Most of the children were in school at the time of the visit, but the shelter appeared clean and orderly. ¶5. (C) IOM: On November 13, Tommaso De Cataldo, Chief of Party for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Nigeria shared with St. John and Poloff details of IOM's work with the Nigerian Immigration Service. De Cataldo stated that IOM's goal for 2010 - 2013 was to strengthen the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) document fraud unit. De Cataldo noted that NIS has shown diligence in its efforts, but still needed to assess and restructure its organizational structure to reach optimal productivity. In response to St. John's presentation about ICE, De Cataldo requested a speaker and/or training in the area of asset tracing and document fraud for NIS agents at a 2009 workshop planned and funded by IOM. ¶6. (C) UNICEF: During a November 13 meeting, Sharon Oladeji, Chief Protection Officer at UNICEF, informed St. John that she would be hesitant to collaborate with ICE due to confidentiality issues with victims. Oladeji did however provide the name of a contact at the Nigeria Police Force Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command TIP Unit, who would be willing to share information about TIP investigations. Poloff agreed to reach out to this Police contact and will report back to St. John with any pertinent information. ¶7. (C) COMMENT: Post believes the training conducted by ICE is a valuable asset; however, in order to increase prosecutions and convictions of so-called "kingpins", the GON needs additional investigative assistance, especially in the area of financial investigations. The ability to build a case adequately and follow a money trail does not exist; until it does, the GON will continue to arrest only the lowest level criminals. Based on responses from interlocutors, it is clear that victim assistance and protection is another area in need of help. Although the FEC approved the Victim's Assistance National Action Plan, a strategy for implementation has yet to be developed. We will monitor whether the GON's actions at this time are in preparation for the 2009 UN Human Rights Commission's Universal Periodic Review (ref A),or a true sign of action. END COMMENT. ¶8. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos. Sanders