Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUJA196
2009-02-03 13:21:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
NIGERIA: FORMER NFIU DIRECTOR OKAURU HIRED AS
how-toP 031321Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5168 INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PRIORITY AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY DIA WASHDC PRIORITY HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
S E C R E T ABUJA 000196
NOFORN
STATE FOR AF/W, INL/C, INL/AAE, AND INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2029
TAGS: PGOV KCOR CASC KCRM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: FORMER NFIU DIRECTOR OKAURU HIRED AS
GOVERNORS FORUM DG
REF: A. 08LAGOS473
B. 08ABUJA2350
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter N.S. Pflaumer for reasons 1.4 (b & d).
S E C R E T ABUJA 000196
NOFORN
STATE FOR AF/W, INL/C, INL/AAE, AND INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2029
TAGS: PGOV KCOR CASC KCRM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: FORMER NFIU DIRECTOR OKAURU HIRED AS
GOVERNORS FORUM DG
REF: A. 08LAGOS473
¶B. 08ABUJA2350
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter N.S. Pflaumer for reasons 1.4 (b & d).
¶1. (C) Nigerian media reported on January 28 that former
Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) Director,
Ashishana Bayo Okauru (Amcit),has just accepted an
appointment as of Director General of the influential
Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF),chaired by Kwara State
Governor, Bukola Saraki. On November 18, 2008, Okauru
resigned from the NFIU Director position when it appeared
EFCC Chair Farida Waziri was preparing to suspend him. In
mid-January, Nigerian press reports claimed that Okauru was
facing criminal charges for alleged national security
violations. In discussions with PolOff and INLOff in
December and January, Okauru (also American citizen) told us
he was did not fear imminent arrest and that he chose to stay
in Nigeria to seek employment. On January 27, NGF Chair and
Kwara State Governor Abubakar Bukola Saraki told Ambassador
that Okauru is not facing any charges, and said he saw
Okauru's appointment as an opportunity to "clean the slate"
regarding questions about his status.
¶2. (S/NF) In a January 29 conversation, Presidency economist
Sani Musa (strictly protect throughout) gave us a somewhat
different take on Okauru's removal from NFIU than that we
have heard previously (reftels) from Okauru and others. Musa
said Okauru was not/not removed because Waziri was angry with
him over remarks he made to USG officials, but did so on the
direct order of Attorney General Aondoakaa. Musa claimed
that Aondoakaa had advance warning that the GON was about to
stop using its reserves to shore up the prevailing
naira-to-dollar exchange rate (N117/$1),which had persisted
for the previous 18 months; the AG and some other insiders
wanted time to shift naira denominated assets into hard
currencies before the new GON laissez faire policy took
effect and without close scrutiny from the NFIU. Musa noted
that Okauru's resignation came only about 10 days before the
naira's slide to a rate of about N150/$1.
¶3. (U) This cable was cleared by Consulate Lagos.
SANDERS