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