US embassy cable - 04ABUJA1074

UNCLAS ABUJA 001074 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KCOR, EFIN, NI 
SUBJECT: ICPC FEELS US LOOKING OVER ITS SHOULDER 
 
REF: ABUJA 979 AND 974 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary:  The Independent Corrupt Practices and 
Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), charged with 
investigating and prosecuting government corruption, has had 
limited success:  dozens of cases filed, many against rather 
senior officials; no convictions to date.  Under pressure 
from US Embassy Abuja, ICPC is publicly acknowledging the 
need to show results.  End Summary. 
 
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608 Cases, Only 34 Go to Court 
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2.  (U) Since its inception in June 2000, the ICPC has 
received 1270 allegations and referred 608 of those to its 
investigations department.  No action was taken on many of 
these until 2003, when constitutional challenges to ICPC's 
mandate were resolved.  The status of these 608 cases is as 
follows, according to an ICPC activities report: 
 
 34  Cases charged in court 
 64  Cases referred to prosecution dept. 
  8  Cases fully investigated, yet to be prosecuted 
 60  Cases currently under investigation 
194  Cases at planning stage 
125  Cases referred to other enforcement body 
133  Cases on which investigation is yet to commence 
---  ----- 
608  Total 
 
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Pressure for Results 
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3.  (U) Poloff attended a two-day ICPC public conference in 
Lokoja, Kogi State, on June 3-4, the goal of which was to 
prepare a strategic plan for the ICPC.  Poloff asked ICPC 
Chairman Justice M. M. Akanbi on June 3 about the status of 
the ministerial corruption prosecution (reftels), for which 
charges had been withdrawn on June 2.  Akanbi said he thought 
charges would be re-filed, but would find out from his 
prosecution staff.  Poloff pressed Akanbi on this case, 
stating that ICPC's ability to achieve results in 
high-profile cases would be critical to its credibility. 
 
4.  (SBU) On June 4, during workshop sessions, Akanbi 
approached Poloff to ask to step outside the conference room. 
 Akanbi gave a detailed explanation of the reason the 
ministerial corruption charges had been withdrawn on June 2 
(a legal technicality revolving around the death of one of 
the original defendants), along with an extensive update of 
the re-filing of charges on June 3.  Akanbi repeatedly said 
that he understood how important this high-profile case is, 
since the whole world is watching to see if ICPC can produce 
results. 
 
5.  (U) On June 16, Poloff attended an ICPC event held in 
honor of "First National Anti-Corruption Week" at its 
headquarters in Abuja.  Akanbi opened the session by reading 
a speech to the audience of about 100-120 journalists.  He 
departed from his prepared speech text at one point to refer 
to the ICPC's high-profile prosecutions and the need to show 
results:  "The whole world is watching; that is why our 
friend from the US Embassy is here." 
 
8.  (SBU) After the press conference concluded, the ICPC's 
Permanent Secretary, Dr. Tukur Ingawa, approached Poloff to 
make an appointment for Akanbi and Ingawa to brief Poloff 
about the status of all pending high-profile prosecutions 
(septel). 
 
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Comment 
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9.  (SBU) The Embassy's repeated inquiries are beginning to 
put pressure on the ICPC to show results.  The Embassy will 
continue to attend high-profile trials and talk with ICPC 
officials regularly.  At the same time, the Embassy will use 
its membership in the G-8 Transparency/Anticorruption Working 
Group (GETAWG) in Abuja to develop strategies for additional 
efforts with other diplomatic missions to influence the 
course of events so the ICPC sees such interest as broader 
than the USG alone. 
CAMPBELL