Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ABUJA2331
2008-12-01 06:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
NIGERIA: RIBADU REITERATES THREAT AND NEED TO FLEE
how-toVZCZCXRO2635 OO RUEHPA DE RUEHUJA #2331/01 3360611 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 010611Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4565 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 1525 RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PRIORITY 0512 RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 0344 RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002331
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, INL/C, INL/AAE, AND INR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2018
TAGS: PGOV KCOR KCRM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: RIBADU REITERATES THREAT AND NEED TO FLEE
COUNTRY
REF: A. ABUJA 2325
B. ABUJA 2307
C. ABUJA 2249
Classified By: Ambassador Robin R. Sanders for reasons 1.4. (b & d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002331
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, INL/C, INL/AAE, AND INR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2018
TAGS: PGOV KCOR KCRM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: RIBADU REITERATES THREAT AND NEED TO FLEE
COUNTRY
REF: A. ABUJA 2325
B. ABUJA 2307
C. ABUJA 2249
Classified By: Ambassador Robin R. Sanders for reasons 1.4. (b & d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: In two late night conversations on November
27, former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
Chair Nuhu Ribadu told the Ambassador that he felt he was in
much greater danger than he did earlier in the week when he
spoke with DCM (ref B). In response to a question from the
Ambassador, he said he believes his harassment is being
orchestrated by Attorney General Michael Aondoakaa and
Inspector General of Police Mike Okiro and not from the
Villa. Ribadu is planning to leave Nigeria within the next
two days. Ambassador encouraged him to remain in touch and
offered to use her good offices should he need help. We
recommend that we allow Ribadu to maneuver himself quietly
out of the country so as not to jeopardize his departure
before further intervention. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) Ribadu was much more concerned about his personal
safety than he was a few days earlier. As he had before,
Ribadu said that he is certain that a group from Benue State
is trying to do him harm. He is no longer sleeping in his
house in Abuja and instead "moves around during the course of
the night." He interrupted his conversation with the
Ambassador to go out and purchase another SIM card for his
cell phone because he was sure his calls were being
monitored.
3. (C) When asked about his plans for his December 4 hearing
in Kaduna (Ref A),Ribadu told the Ambassador that he would
not/not attend and that he sent a letter explaining to the
court that until the case on his demotion was decided, he had
nothing more to add to his petition. (Note: The press
reported on November 28 the court dismissed the hearing, and
we are trying to verify this. End Note.) The Ambassador
also asked Ribadu if he will report for duty to Bayelsa, to
which he responded that he would not, as "things have
changed."
4. (C) In response to the Ambassador,s question whether
Ribadu thought the order to harm him from the highest levels
of the GON (i.e., the
President or those around him),Ribadu stated that at this
time he did not/not believe that this was the case. Ribadu
told the Ambassador that he thought "individuals they had
talked about before" (read, Attorney General Michael
Aondoakaa and Inspector General of Police Mike Okiro) were
responsible and noted that the five men following him were
from Benue -- Aondoakaa and Okiro's state.
5. (C) Ambassador asked Ribadu what his next steps would be
and when and how he planned to go the U.S., especially since
it was likely his name was on a watchlist and he was likely
to be prevented from departing because of his pending lawsuit
against the Nigeria Police Force. Ribadu said he was
planning to leave Nigeria within the next few days, but would
not be departing through a &normal8 route such as via the
airport as he too doubted he would be allowed to leave that
way. He implied that he would not be traveling directly to
the U.S. He noted earlier to the DCM that he planned to go
first to the U.K., but he did not say this specifically to
the Ambassador. (Comment: As a trained police officer, he
may feel that he needs to make several stops in different
places until he is out of reach of the individuals following
him. End Comment). Ambassador encouraged Ribadu when and as
prudent to let her know his situation and stressed that she
did not want to do anything that might place him in jeopardy.
He promised to keep in touch.
6. (C) COMMENT: The Ambassador will meet with FonMin on
November 30 and will raise the issue of Ribadu's safety,
pointing out that the GON is "shooting itself in the foot"
with regard to its stance toward Ribadu as well as its
over-reaction on press freedom issues, particularly given the
FonMin's two speaking engagements in Washington and Atlanta.
ABUJA 00002331 002 OF 002
We recommend that we allow Ribadu to maneuver himself out of
the country before taking additional action to protest the
manner in which is being treated, in order not to jeopardize
his departure. END COMMENT.
7. (C) This cable coordinated with Consulate Lagos.
Sanders
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, INL/C, INL/AAE, AND INR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2018
TAGS: PGOV KCOR KCRM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: RIBADU REITERATES THREAT AND NEED TO FLEE
COUNTRY
REF: A. ABUJA 2325
B. ABUJA 2307
C. ABUJA 2249
Classified By: Ambassador Robin R. Sanders for reasons 1.4. (b & d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: In two late night conversations on November
27, former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
Chair Nuhu Ribadu told the Ambassador that he felt he was in
much greater danger than he did earlier in the week when he
spoke with DCM (ref B). In response to a question from the
Ambassador, he said he believes his harassment is being
orchestrated by Attorney General Michael Aondoakaa and
Inspector General of Police Mike Okiro and not from the
Villa. Ribadu is planning to leave Nigeria within the next
two days. Ambassador encouraged him to remain in touch and
offered to use her good offices should he need help. We
recommend that we allow Ribadu to maneuver himself quietly
out of the country so as not to jeopardize his departure
before further intervention. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) Ribadu was much more concerned about his personal
safety than he was a few days earlier. As he had before,
Ribadu said that he is certain that a group from Benue State
is trying to do him harm. He is no longer sleeping in his
house in Abuja and instead "moves around during the course of
the night." He interrupted his conversation with the
Ambassador to go out and purchase another SIM card for his
cell phone because he was sure his calls were being
monitored.
3. (C) When asked about his plans for his December 4 hearing
in Kaduna (Ref A),Ribadu told the Ambassador that he would
not/not attend and that he sent a letter explaining to the
court that until the case on his demotion was decided, he had
nothing more to add to his petition. (Note: The press
reported on November 28 the court dismissed the hearing, and
we are trying to verify this. End Note.) The Ambassador
also asked Ribadu if he will report for duty to Bayelsa, to
which he responded that he would not, as "things have
changed."
4. (C) In response to the Ambassador,s question whether
Ribadu thought the order to harm him from the highest levels
of the GON (i.e., the
President or those around him),Ribadu stated that at this
time he did not/not believe that this was the case. Ribadu
told the Ambassador that he thought "individuals they had
talked about before" (read, Attorney General Michael
Aondoakaa and Inspector General of Police Mike Okiro) were
responsible and noted that the five men following him were
from Benue -- Aondoakaa and Okiro's state.
5. (C) Ambassador asked Ribadu what his next steps would be
and when and how he planned to go the U.S., especially since
it was likely his name was on a watchlist and he was likely
to be prevented from departing because of his pending lawsuit
against the Nigeria Police Force. Ribadu said he was
planning to leave Nigeria within the next few days, but would
not be departing through a &normal8 route such as via the
airport as he too doubted he would be allowed to leave that
way. He implied that he would not be traveling directly to
the U.S. He noted earlier to the DCM that he planned to go
first to the U.K., but he did not say this specifically to
the Ambassador. (Comment: As a trained police officer, he
may feel that he needs to make several stops in different
places until he is out of reach of the individuals following
him. End Comment). Ambassador encouraged Ribadu when and as
prudent to let her know his situation and stressed that she
did not want to do anything that might place him in jeopardy.
He promised to keep in touch.
6. (C) COMMENT: The Ambassador will meet with FonMin on
November 30 and will raise the issue of Ribadu's safety,
pointing out that the GON is "shooting itself in the foot"
with regard to its stance toward Ribadu as well as its
over-reaction on press freedom issues, particularly given the
FonMin's two speaking engagements in Washington and Atlanta.
ABUJA 00002331 002 OF 002
We recommend that we allow Ribadu to maneuver himself out of
the country before taking additional action to protest the
manner in which is being treated, in order not to jeopardize
his departure. END COMMENT.
7. (C) This cable coordinated with Consulate Lagos.
Sanders