US embassy cable - 05LAGOS1543

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001543 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS 
STATE PASS DOC FOR PHUPER AND KBURRESS 
STATE PASS DOJ/OPT FOR JSILVERWOOD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2015 
TAGS: EFIN, KCOR, KCRM, ECON, EINV, PGOV, PREL, NI 
SUBJECT: LAGOS ANTICORRUPTION UNIT REQUESTS USG TECHNICAL 
ASSISTANCE 
 
 
Classified By: Acting Consul General William M. Howe for reasons 1.4(b) 
 
and (d). 
 
1. Summary. (C) The Lagos branch of the Economic and 
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) met with the G8 
Anticorruption/Transparency pilot team on September 23 to 
discuss its efforts to pursue financial crimes, institutional 
capacity to pursue such crimes, and areas in which it would 
like USG funding/assistance.  The EFCC members emphasized the 
need for more training, including an adequate training 
facility to accommodate groups of 50 students, and requested 
USG assistance in acquiring communication, biometrics, and 
surveillance equipment to help in investigations.  End 
Summary. 
 
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EFCC Lagos Organizational Chart 
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2. (U) The EFCC Lagos branch has 317 employees.  Out of 317 
employees, 103 are police operatives, 54 are civilians, 77 
are graduated police cadets, 44 are uniformed police, 33 are 
drivers/dispatchers, five are customs officials, five are 
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) representatives, and two 
Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) officials. 
Their Lagos headquarters consists of six sections: Economic 
Governance, Advance Fee Fraud, Bank Fraud, General 
Investigation, Miscellaneous/Economic Sabotage, and 
Anti-Terrorism. 
 
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Investigating Charges Against State Governors 
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3. (SBU) The G8 team met with EFCC members at their Lagos 
headquarters on September 23 to discuss the EFCC's current 
record in combating financial crimes.  EFCC Director General 
Akomaye stated the EFCC had seized assets of a number of 
prominent Nigerian officials including the former Minister of 
Education, former Inspector General of Police, several 
senators, and several state governors. 
 
4. (C) Lagos EFCC Director of Operations, Ibrahim Lamorde, 
said currently the EFCC was investigating corruption charges 
against the governors of Taraba, Ondo, Ekiti, and Yobe 
states.  Lamorde complained about the difficulties in these 
investigations because the governors, under the Nigerian 
constitution, are immune from prosecution.  As a result, the 
EFCC was targeting individuals who directly or indirectly 
assisted these state governors. 
 
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Training and Modern Equipment Needed 
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5. (SBU) Lamorde said the EFCC Lagos branch was not digitally 
connected and he would like USG assistance for more training 
in modern technology and techniques of investigation. 
Specifically, he mentioned forensic training and training on 
cyber crime investigation.  Lagos EFCC Bank Fraud Head 
Mohammed Wakili said his section would appreciate counterfeit 
document detection training including the identification of 
counterfeit checks, currencies, and other financial 
documents.  Lamorde and DG Akomaye asserted the need for a 
training facility to accommodate groups of 50 or more 
students.  In addition to training, EFCC members asked for 
USG assistance in building computer databases, computer 
forensics and biometric fingerprinting equipment, and 
communication and surveillance equipment. 
 
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Comment 
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6. (C) The September 23 Lagos EFCC meetings highlighted the 
areas in which the EFCC could benefit from USG assistance. 
Criticism remains that the EFCC is a political organization 
used to carry out political vendettas on behalf of senior 
members in the Nigerian government, specifically the 
president.  Whether politically motivated or not, the EFCC 
has had some success in pursuing financial crimes, combating 
corruption, and seizing assets.  End Comment. 
Members of the EFCC team included: EFCC Director General 
Emmanuel Akomaye, Lagos EFCC Director of Operations Ibrahim 
Lamorde, Bank Fraud Section Head Mohammed Wakili, Economic 
Governance Head Ali Janga, General Investigation Section Head 
Umar Sanda, Advance Fee Fraud Section Head Olaolu Adegbite, 
Anti-Terrorism Head Rabe Naser, and Port Harcourt Head of 
Operations Emeka Nwoji.  Members of the USG team included: 
INL/C Gary Peters, Treasury/OTA Jerry Rowe, Treasury/Fincen 
Jerry Crawford, DOJ Margo Brodie, and Econoff/notetaker Ken 
Reiman. 
 
This cable has been cleared by Senior Advisor Bureau of 
International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Gary L. Peters. 
WHOWE