NIGERIA: NFIU GIABA DELEGATES TELL ALL

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002350 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W, INL/C, INL/AAE, AND INR E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2027 TAGS: PGOV KCOR KCRM NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: NFIU GIABA DELEGATES TELL ALL REF: LAGOS 473 Classified By: Political Counselor Walter N.S. Pflaumer for reasons 1.4 . (b & d). ¶1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: INLOff was briefed on the developments relating to NFIU Director A.B. Okauru's resignation by two members of the Nigerian delegation at the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) Plenary in Dakar, Senegal on November 19. According to the delegation, Okauru's removal is part of a grand scheme by a group of ex-Governors and others who are under investigation for corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),to cover up their past misdeeds and to co-opt the next elections by dismantling the EFCC and NFIU. END SUMMARY. Secret Files - - - - - - - ¶2. (S/NF) On November 19, INLOff met with NFIU External Relations Officer Mr. Tukur Modibbo and NFIU Chief Analyst Mr. Mustapha Mohamed, both of whom are Okauru's trusted lieutenants, and were in Senegal for the GIABA Plenary. Modibbo and Mohamed disclosed to INLOff that Okauru anticipated his removal from office and surreptitiously gave several financial intelligence (STR) files to them. Modibbo indicated that he has 100 corruption-related case files with international linkages, approximately 26 of which are on Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) (Note: Modibbo did not indicate the exact location of these files. End Note.) Modibbo and Mohamed told INLOff they believe no one suspects they are in possession of these files. They also confided that they will not give files to Okauru's replacement, former Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) Director Norman Wokoma, as they believe he cannot be trusted and would easily be replaced if he does not cooperate with those who put him there. Modibbo and Mohamed also vowed to do their best to secure these files themselves, and assured INLOff that the Egmont files are secure, while others remain in NFIU,s immediate possession. What is in the Files? - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (S/NF) When asked for more details on the files, Mohamed told INLOff he is in possession of files on the Ibori and Siemens scandal, Obasanjo's power sector fraud, Obasanjo's daughter Yabo Bello's alleged money laundering activities, and Vice President Goodluck Jonathan's suspected corruption in Bayelsa State. Other cases in their possession involve the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General, and EFCC Chair Farida Waziri. Mohammed then focused the conversation on Waziri, who he claims was strategically appointed by Attorney General (AG) Michael Aondoakaa to prevent investigations of the former governors. Actions to block the investigations included the redeployment all EFCC personnel that had a hand in their cases. He also asserted that Waziri demanded loyalty to herself as a condition of employment. Okauru's forced resignation, for example, was a direct consequence of the details of his November conversations with USG officials in Washington being relayed to Waziri by Norman Wokoma (reftel). Wokoma, as a reward, had been made NFIU's Acting Director. (Note: As a result of Okauru's forced resignation, Mohammed told INLOff that the NFIU has now been shut out of Egmont systems, and may face other consequences such as being placed again on the Financial Action Task Forces, list of Non-Cooperating States and Territories (NCCT) list. End Note.) Manipulating Yar'Adua's Health - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶4. (S/NF) According to Mohamed and Modibbo, the President's health has provided the former governors the opportunity to consolidate control over the country's anti-corruption apparatus and enable them to participate in the next elections. Modibbo explained to INLOff that the former governors first convinced the President to appoint Aondoakaa as AG on the ground that he would do a good job of defending the President's election case; they then succeeded in arranging the appointment of Mike Okiro as Inspector General of Police. Second, the former governors placed pressure on ABUJA 00002350 002 OF 002 the President to undermine the cases against them in the EFCC by replacing Ribadu with Waziri, who would be loyal to the AG and help quash the cases. However, Mohamed and Modibbo suggested that the President might be beginning to resist at least some of the pressure from the former governors as public criticism of the EFCC under Waziri's leadership continues to grow and the international community's confidence in the EFCC begins to wane. ¶5. (S/NF) COMMENT: Much of what Mohamed and Modibbo put forward is consistent with what we have heard elsewhere and it has become increasingly clear that all roads lead to Aondoakaa and the former governors insofar as the undercutting of Nigeria's anti-corruption efforts are concerned. END COMMENT. ¶6. (U) This cable coordinated with Consulate Lagos. Sanders