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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002381 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
ENERGY FOR CAROLYN GAY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2017 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EFIN KDEM KCOR KCRIM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH EFCC 
CHAIR RIBADU 
 
Classified By: CDA Lisa Piascik for reasons 1.4. (b & d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY.  In his meeting with Deputy Secretary 
Negroponte and AF A/S Frazer, Economic and Financial Crimes 
Commission (EFCC) Chairman Malam Nuhu Ribadu expressed 
appreciation for USG backing for the EFCC and asked for 
continued public and material support.  Ribadu expressed 
single-minded determination to continue to extend the EFCC,s 
reach downward to the state and local levels, linking good 
governance and transparency at these levels directly to 
progress on democracy and fair elections.  Ribadu thanked the 
Deputy Secretary for his visit to the organization -- the 
highest in the history of the EFCC -- and said it sends a 
clear message of U.S. support for Nigeria's reforms.  The 
Deputy Secretary praised the EFCC for its hard work and 
reiterated the U.S. commitment to working with Nigeria to 
fight corruption and build democracy.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) In a November 12 meeting between Deputy Secretary of 
State John Negroponte, AF A/S Frazer and Economic and 
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Malam Nuhu 
Ribadu, both sides expressed their commitment to ongoing 
cooperation in fighting corruption and supporting Nigeria's 
democratic development.  Chairman Ribadu thanked the Deputy 
S ecretary for the U.S. support received to date and noted 
that the EFCC considers the U.S. to be a mentor and an 
example in the fight against corruption.  Corruption, Ribadu 
noted, is the root cause of poverty and insecurity in Africa 
with poor leadership and mismanagement at the heart of 
Africa's (and Nigeria's) current problems. 
 
EFCC - A VEHICLE FOR CHANGE 
--------------------------- 
¶3. (C)  Ribadu praised the role the EFCC has played over the 
past 4-5 years in fighting corruption and, as he saw it, 
reforming Nigerian politics.  He told the Deputy Secretary 
that even Yar'Adua is a product of Nigeria's reforms, calling 
him "a break in the cycle" of corruption.  Ribadu described 
Yar'Adua as a humble man, not an "African big man."  This 
same culture of humble servant and accountability has also 
emerged, according to Ribadu, in the new National Assembly 
and state governors.  Ribadu characterized the current set of 
governors as "far, far better than the last administration." 
Despite these improvements, however, the EFCC continues to 
follow "every cent" of GON spending and Ribadu noted the EFCC 
had previously detected money being taken out of the National 
Assembly budget and had taken action.  The current levels of 
fiscal responsibility, budget transparency, and national 
savings (both in reserves and the stabilization fund) are 
only possible, he maintained, because of the EFCC's work. 
Ribadu told the Deputy Secretary that in 2005 more than 10 
billion USD was taken out of the country; however, after the 
arrest in the UK of two former governors more than 10 billion 
USD of capital returned to Nigeria in 2006.  He attributed 
the boom in the capital market, communication and banking 
sectors to this increased capital inflow. 
 
¶4. (C) Ribadu was hopeful that the reach of the EFCC and its 
influence on good governance would continue to move farther 
down in governmental structures toward the local levels.  In 
response to the Deputy Secretary's query about state and 
local level activities, Ribadu noted that investigations are 
ongoing in several states, some already resulting in 
prosecutions, and that more than 100 local government areas 
(out of 774) have been investigated.  According to Ribadu, 
the recent passage of the Fiscal Accountability Law will help 
to bring positive change to state and local government by 
increasing accountability and transparency.  He admitted much 
more needs to be done at the local level, but said at present 
the EFCC is focused on "big corruption."  Ribadu recognizes, 
however, that fighting corruption at all levels is the only 
way to bring about good governance and pave the way for free 
and fair elections.  He characterized corruption in Nigeria 
as "endemic" and said strong enforcement of the rule of law 
is the only way to address it at all levels. 
 
CURRENT EFCC ACTIVITIES 
----------------------- 
¶5. (C) Ribadu noted three specific EFCC activities as 
 
ABUJA 00002381  002 OF 002 
 
 
vehicles for change in Nigeria: the National Financial 
Intelligence Center (NFIU), the Nigerian Extractive 
Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the Fix 
Nigeria program.  Ribadu praised the NFIU, expressing 
appreciation for the support of the U.S. Department of 
Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN).  The 
NFIU, he said, has for the first time compiled a strong data 
system for profiling criminal activities in the financial 
sector.  The ability to understand and monitor the financial 
sector on an individual transaction basis has been a lynchpin 
in the fight against various types of criminal activities. 
Ribadu characterized the NEITI as a first for Nigeria, noting 
the intrinsic value of tracking the performance of actors in 
the oil industry.  Ribadu commended the Deputy Secretary on 
the performance of U.S. companies in the oil industry, 
stating they are among the best in Nigeria at bringing best 
practices and transparency into the market place.  Ribadu 
praised the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the 
transparent behavior it encourages in U.S. companies. 
Lastly, in response to the Deputy Secretary's question about 
involvement of civil society, Ribadu explained that the 
EFCC's Fix Nigeria initiative, a joint initiative with the 
U.N. Development Program (UNDP) and civil society, designs 
school curriculums and materials, supports public education 
and enlists the assistance of religious leaders in the fight 
against corruption, aiming to change the cultural perception 
of corruption. 
 
ASSISTANCE FROM THE U.S. -- WHAT EFCC REALLY NEEDS 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
¶6. (C) The Deputy Secretary praised the EFCC for its hard 
work and determination to provide a better future for 
Nigeria.  He reiterated the U.S. commitment to support 
Nigeria in its fight against corruption and toward good 
governance and democracy.  Ribadu thanked the Deputy 
S ecretary for the U.S. support received to date.  In 
particular, he noted the more than 30 training sessions 
provided by the Departments of Treasury and Justice.  Ribadu 
emphasized that the U.S. has a critical role to play in 
fighting corruption in Nigeria.  Specifically, he said the 
U.S. must insist that reforms continue and he asked for basic 
assistance in the form of equipment and technology.  Ribadu 
thanked the Deputy Secretary for his visit and noted that his 
was the highest level visit ever to the EFCC offices and 
sends a clear message of U.S. support for reform.  Ribadu 
said the EFCC needs basic equipment and technology to "help 
us survive," including: armored cars, body armor, 
communications gear, and technology for real-time recording 
of financial transactions.  He noted the recent establishment 
of a National Forensics Laboratory (with U.S. support) and 
current efforts to establish a National Crime Data Center 
(with EU support).  The Deputy Secretary told Ribadu he would 
encourage the USG to give the EFCC every support possible, 
noting again the positive work the Commission is doing.  He 
indicated we would explore the possibility of further visits 
from Treasury and other agencies in the future. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Participants: 
 
U.S. 
The Deputy Secretary 
A/S Jendayi Frazer 
CDA Lisa Piascik 
Ted Wittenstein, D Staff 
Embassy Notetaker 
 
Nigeria 
EFCC Chairman Malam Nuhu Ribadu 
EFCC Secretary to the Commission Emmanuel Akomaye 
EFCC Chief of External Relations Ibrahim Mohammed 
EFCC Chief of Staff Dapo Olorunyomi 
 
¶8. (U) The Deputy Secretary's staff has cleared this message. 
PIASCIK