US embassy cable - 05LAGOS1738

S E C R E T LAGOS 001738 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEA FOR OC, OI,OID,OEE,OSE,OIE 
SECSTATE FOR INL/LP,AF/W 
POST FOR DEA RD AND ARD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2010 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, SNAR, NI 
SUBJECT: NDLEA  SAYS IT IS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDING 
COOPERATION 
 
REF: LAGOS 01701 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: DEA ATTACHE SAM GAYE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
 
1. (S) In late October, the Nigerian National Drug Law 
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) created a special unit, consisting 
of 25 agents. The mandate of the new unit was to arrest drug 
kingpins, according to unit commander-Gadzama who was also 
the NDLEA's top officer in the currently dormant NDLEA/DEA 
Joint Task Force. 
 
2. (S) On October 28, the unit searched the residence of 
suspected trafficker Onochie Ikenua in the Maryland section 
of Lagos. They hit a jackpot. The NDLEA seized 3.2 kilograms 
of cocaine, three expensive motor vehicles and undetermined 
amount of cash. The NDLEA also seized several bank records 
(14 bank accounts), one of which contained a saving deposit 
balance of two hundred fifty one millions in Nigerian 
currency (USD 1.9 million). The documents also showed Ikenua 
with bank accounts in Germany and the UK respectively. A 
further investigation revealed Ikenua owned 16 registered 
real estate properties in Nigeria, one valued at USD 10 
million. 
 
3. (S) On October 31, upon hearing about the arrest, DEA 
Lagos met NDLEA Chairman Bello lafiaji and requested to 
assist with the investigation. Bello and his top aides 
diverted discussion about the arrest. Bello then informed CA 
Gaye that he was suspending counter narcotics cooperation 
with DEA until there could be a meeting with President 
Obasanjo during which Bello could defend his agency's record. 
Bello claimed that he was taking this task because the U.S. 
Ambassador and British High Commissioner previously had 
raised concerns with President Obasanjo about the NDLEA's 
performance. Bello now complained that the entire NDLEA staff 
was "demoralized" due to these actions. The meeting was 
adjourned. 
 
4. (S) Ikenua and his vehicles were released. We do not know 
the full details of his release. Subsequently, the special 
unit that had effected the arrest was dissolved. 
 
5. (S) Ikenua was previously arrested twice and convicted 
once by the NDLEA under Bello's predecessor. Under Nigerian 
law, he should not be entiled bail. 
 
6. (S) On November 4, DEA Attache wrote a letter to the 
NDLEA, requesting to participate in the investigation of 
Ikenua and interview him. According to an NDLEA source, 
Ikenua was returned to his jail cell because the "Americans" 
had found out about the arrest and wanted to interview him. 
In response to the DEA letter, the NDLEA has arranged an 
interview with the suspect for November 8. 
 
7. (S) The Mission will raise Bello's refusal to cooperate 
with the appropriate GON senior officials. 
BROWNE