This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS LAGOS 000657 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC KFRD CVIS NI
SUBJECT:  SYNOPSIS OF FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES IN LAGOS, 
NIGERIA 
 
Department for DS/ICI/CR, DS/IP/AF and CA/FPP 
 
REF:  Lagos 00546 
 
¶1.   (SBU)  Summary:  Within the past 6 months, six LES 
    members and four guards have been fired from ConGen Lagos 
    for visa-related fraud and malfeasance.  Ongoing 
    investigations by the DS Anti-Fraud agent and the RSOs 
    office indicate that there is still more internal fraud to 
    be uncovered.  Post believe the situation to be serious and 
    asks that Department send a TDY AFU agent assist with the 
    current investigations (reftel) and to cover the AFU summer 
    staffing gap.  The Chief of the Consular Section concurs 
    with this request.  End summary 
 
¶2.   (SBU) Malfeasance in the Consular Section consists of 
    altering case files, documents, electronic records, and 
    issuing improper appointments. The most common internal 
    fraud theme seems to be money for documents, mainly visas 
    and appointment letters. In the past six to eight months, 
    six locally employed staff have been fired.  In addition, 
    four guards from the Local Guard Force (LGF) have been fired 
    for accepting money for visa appointments and two Mobile 
    Police Officers (MOPOL) were asked to be removed from the 
    Consulate detachment due to their involvement in accepting 
    money from visa applicants in line. 
 
¶3.   (SBU) The DS Anti-Fraud Agent has a number of cases 
    open at any given time, the majority regarding malfeasance 
    in the Consular Section.  Due to the sensitivity of said 
    cases, the Agent must often work alone or ask for RSO 
    assistance.  Most of the investigations are complex, 
    convoluted and have multiple channels.  For example, a 
    former Consulate gardener was instrumental in facilitating 
    the sale of expedited appointments to visa applicants 
    through secondary persons outside the Consulate. 
    Ultimately, the trail always seems to lead back to a locally 
    employed staff person. 
 
¶4.   (U) ARSO/I is scheduled to depart post in early July 
    and his replacement is not due to arrive until mid-October. 
    Post is concerned that a four-month gap will inundate the 
    AFU successor with many of the same issues that have been 
    resolved.  Post respectfully requests that consideration be 
    given to support a TDY AFU Agent for the reasons outlined 
    above and in reftel. 
 
Hinson-Jones