Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ABUJA714
2008-04-17 13:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
(C) NIGERIA: CONSULTANT ALLEGES BANKOLE INFLATED
how-toVZCZCXYZ1065 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHUJA #0714 1081333 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 171333Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2619 INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 9093 RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000714
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR KCOR NI
SUBJECT: (C) NIGERIA: CONSULTANT ALLEGES BANKOLE INFLATED
FIGURES
REF: A. ABUJA 238
B. ABUJA 176
Classified By: PolCouns Walter Pflaumer, reasons 1.4 (b, c, & d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000714
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR KCOR NI
SUBJECT: (C) NIGERIA: CONSULTANT ALLEGES BANKOLE INFLATED
FIGURES
REF: A. ABUJA 238
B. ABUJA 176
Classified By: PolCouns Walter Pflaumer, reasons 1.4 (b, c, & d).
1. (C) Musa Ibrahim (strictly protect),consultant to the
National Assembly (NASS) on its Policy Analysis and Research
Project, told PolOff April 15 that the House of Assembly's
January declaration claiming recovery of $2.5 billion in
unspent funds from various GON ministries (Refs A & B),ahead
of its review of the 2008 budget, was egregiously inflated.
In his capacity as a consultant to the NASS, Ibrahim claimed
he was told by House Members that Speaker Dimeji Bankole
wanted to "give the pretense of doing something positive,"
and therefore, inflated the figures. While Ibrahim conceded
that certain monies had been recovered, he doubted that they
amounted to any more than a few hundred thousand dollars.
Ibrahim also cast doubt the recovered funds "made it back"
into the Treasury, claiming Bankole "pocketed the monies."
In addition, Ibrahim contended that Bankole is pushing the
current House probe into former President Obasanjo's handling
of the power sector to discredit and "shame" Obasanjo.
2. (C//NF) COMMENT: Bankole is scheduled to visit the U.S.
towards the end of April. While we have been unable to
corroborate Ibrahim's allegations, given the opacity in
tracking Nigerian government expenditures, it is certainly
possible that Bankole inflated the figures. As the House
Speaker (and son of an influential politician),Bankole
enjoys a degree of influence within the People's Democratic
Party, and appears to be employing that influence to
challenge the position of former President Obasanjo. (FYI:
Bankole's family is the main rival to Obasanjo for influence
in Abeokuta, their common hometown). In preparation for
Bankole's trip to the U.S., it is important to remember that,
while Bankole has been working assiduously to cultivate a
public image as a "reformer," under his tenure the House has
yet to institute significant, tangible reforms, preoccupying
itself it appears with political recriminations instead. END
COMMENT.
SANDERS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR KCOR NI
SUBJECT: (C) NIGERIA: CONSULTANT ALLEGES BANKOLE INFLATED
FIGURES
REF: A. ABUJA 238
B. ABUJA 176
Classified By: PolCouns Walter Pflaumer, reasons 1.4 (b, c, & d).
1. (C) Musa Ibrahim (strictly protect),consultant to the
National Assembly (NASS) on its Policy Analysis and Research
Project, told PolOff April 15 that the House of Assembly's
January declaration claiming recovery of $2.5 billion in
unspent funds from various GON ministries (Refs A & B),ahead
of its review of the 2008 budget, was egregiously inflated.
In his capacity as a consultant to the NASS, Ibrahim claimed
he was told by House Members that Speaker Dimeji Bankole
wanted to "give the pretense of doing something positive,"
and therefore, inflated the figures. While Ibrahim conceded
that certain monies had been recovered, he doubted that they
amounted to any more than a few hundred thousand dollars.
Ibrahim also cast doubt the recovered funds "made it back"
into the Treasury, claiming Bankole "pocketed the monies."
In addition, Ibrahim contended that Bankole is pushing the
current House probe into former President Obasanjo's handling
of the power sector to discredit and "shame" Obasanjo.
2. (C//NF) COMMENT: Bankole is scheduled to visit the U.S.
towards the end of April. While we have been unable to
corroborate Ibrahim's allegations, given the opacity in
tracking Nigerian government expenditures, it is certainly
possible that Bankole inflated the figures. As the House
Speaker (and son of an influential politician),Bankole
enjoys a degree of influence within the People's Democratic
Party, and appears to be employing that influence to
challenge the position of former President Obasanjo. (FYI:
Bankole's family is the main rival to Obasanjo for influence
in Abeokuta, their common hometown). In preparation for
Bankole's trip to the U.S., it is important to remember that,
while Bankole has been working assiduously to cultivate a
public image as a "reformer," under his tenure the House has
yet to institute significant, tangible reforms, preoccupying
itself it appears with political recriminations instead. END
COMMENT.
SANDERS