Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 11098 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/10 2001/11
2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AMED ASEC AORC AF AS AEMR ABUD AMGT AR APECO AFIN AM AJ AU AE ABLD AG AY ASIG APER AMBASSADOR ASEAN AA AL ASUP AX AID AUC ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG ADANA AFFAIRS AND AN ADCO ARM ATRN AECL AADP ACOA APEC AGRICULTURE ACS ADPM ASCH AMEX ACAO ANET AODE ARF ACBAQ APCS AMG AQ AMCHAMS AORG AGAO ADM AFSI AFSN AINF AIT AO ATFN AROC AFGHANISTAN AFU AER ALOW AC AZ AVERY AGMT
BO BD BR BEXP BA BRUSSELS BL BM BH BTIO BIDEN BT BC BU BY BX BG BK BF BBSR BMGT BTIU BE BWC BB BP BILAT
CS CASC CA CDC CVIS CY CO CI CMGT CODEL CFED CH CW CU CONDOLEEZZA CR CSW CPAS CJUS CDG CE CG CBW COUNTER CN CKGR COUNTERTERRORISM CWC CJAN CIA CD CLINTON CT CARSON CONS CB CM CLMT CROS CNARC CIDA CBSA CIC CEUDA CHR CITT CAC CACM CVR CAPC COPUOS CBC CBE CDB CAN COE COUNTRY CLEARANCE CACS CF CL CIS CTM COM CV CICTE
DEA DR DA DOMESTIC DHS DAO DCM DEPT DTRA DPRK DEFENSE DE DJ DISENGAGEMENT DOD DEAX DOE DK DS
ETRD ELAB ECON EG EUN EAIR EAID EU ECIN ENRG EPET EFIN EAGR EINT EIND ENERG ELTN ETTC EINV ECPS EFIS EWWT EK ES EN EPA EC ER EI EZ ET EINVECONSENVCSJA ECONOMICS EXTERNAL ELN ELECTIONS EMIN EINN EFINECONCS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ENIV ECUN ENGR ENNP EUR EAP EEPET ETRDEINVTINTCS ENVI EFTA ETRO ESENV ECINECONCS ENVR ECONOMY ECONOMIC EUMEM EAIDS ETRA ETRN EUREM EFIM EIAR EXIM ERD EAIG ETRC EXBS EINVEFIN ECIP EINDETRD EUC EREL ECA ENGY ECONCS EINVETC ECONEFIN ESA ETC ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH
FI FJ FR FREEDOM FTAA FARC FAO FMLN FBI FOR FTA FOREIGN FINANCE FO FISO FDA FAC FOI FM FINR
GOV GAERC GG GT GM GV GH GOI GA GTIP GR GZ GE GCC GY GANGS GL GLOBAL GERARD GF GAZA GTMO
HK HR HO HA HUMAN HU HILLARY HSTC HUMOR HEBRON HI HURI HYMPSK
IR IS IRS IMO ID IWC IZ ICAO IV IC IT IZPREL IRAQI IO IN IAEA ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN IPR INRB ITALY ICRC INTERPOL IQ ICTY INTELSAT IEFIN IA INR IRC IACI ITRA IL ICJ INTERNAL ISRAELI INMARSAT ITU ILC IBRD IMF ILO IDP ITF IBET IGAD IEA IAHRC ICTR IDA IIP INRA INRO IRAJ IF
JA JP JO JOSEPH JOHNNIE JM JUS JAMES
KISL KIRF KWBG KSCA KDEM KIRC KPAO KMDR KCRM KWMN KFRD KTFN KHLS KN KCIP KNNP KSTC KIPR KOMC KTDB KJUS KOLY KIDE KSTH KS KMPI KZ KG KRVC KICC KTIA KTIP KVPR KV KU KR KPKO KGHG KCOR KE KSUM KPAL KSEP KGIC KFLO KAWC KUNR KNPP KNEI KBIO KPRP KMCA KTEX KGIT KNSD KCFE KLIG KFLU KBCT KOMS KBTS KACT KCRS KGCC KDRG KWMM KAWK KHIV KSPR KRAD KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOCI KPAI KHSA KTLA KO KFSC KVIR KX KFTFN KHDP KPLS KSAF KMFO KRCM KCSY KSAC KPWR KTRD KID KWNM KMRS KICA KRIM KSEO KPOA KCHG KREC KOM KRGY KCMR KSCI KFIN KVRP KPAONZ KCGC KNAR KMOC KWAC KMIG KSEC KIFR KDEMAF KNUC KPIN KPRV KBTR KERG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNUP KTER KDDG KPAK KREL KCOM KNNPMNUC KRFD KHUM KDEV KCFC KWWMN KTBT KWMNCS KJUST
LE LY LU LTTE LI LO LH LG LAB LA LOG LT
MARR MCAP MOPS MY MNUC MX MARAD MASS MIL MO MU MEPI MR MDC MPOS MEETINGS MD MTCRE MK MUCN MASC MRCRE ML MA MEPP MAR MAPP MP MT MAS MTS MLS MI MERCOSUR MC MV MEDIA MILI MEPN MG MW MIK MTCR MZ MOPPS MAPS MCC MASSMNUC MQADHAFI MTRE
NZ NI NPT NZUS NL NATO NO NAFTA NDP NIPP NP NS NU NATIONAL NPG NGO NG NK NA NSSP NRR NSG NSC NPA NORAD NT NW NEW NH NSF NV NR NE NSFO NC NAR NASA
OTRA OIIP OPRC OVIP OPDC OPIC OREP OEXC OAS OSCE ODIP OSAC OFDP OIE OECD OPCW OVP OPAD OFDA OIC OSCI OMIG OBSP ON OCS OCII OHUM OTR OFFICIALS
PGOV PREL PTER PINR PHUM PK PE PO PREF PHSA PINS PARM PROP POL PSOE PAK PBTS PAO PM PF PNAT POLITICS PARMS PBIO PSI POLINT POLITICAL PARTIES PL PA PGOVLO PORG PGOVE PLN PINF PRELP PAS PPA PRGOV PUNE PG PALESTINIAN POLICY PROG PDEM PREFA PDOV PCI PRAM PTBS PSA POSTS PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PGIV PHUMPGOV PCUL PSEPC PREO PAHO PMIL PNG PP PS PEPR PINT PU PECON POGOV PINL PKFK PY PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PMAR PHUMPREL PHUS PRL PGOC PNR PGGV PROV PTERE PGOF PHUMBA PEL POV
QA
RS RICE RUPREL RU RIGHTS RO RW RSP RP REACTION REPORT RCMP RSO RF RFE RM ROBERT REGION
SOCI SARS SMIG SCUL SENV SNAR SW SA SP SY SENVKGHG SU SF SAN SZ SR SO SHUM SYR SAARC SL SI SNARCS SWE SN SPCE SNARIZ SCRS SC SIPDIS SEN SNARN SPCVIS STEINBERG SG SIPRS SH SOFA SANC SK ST SEVN
TBIO TSPL TPHY TT TRSY TRGY TN TSPA TU TW TC TX TI TS TO TH TIP TP TERRORISM TURKEY TD TZ TFIN TNGD TINT THPY TBID TF TL TV TK TR
UNGA UZ UK UP USTR UN USEU US UNSC UNHCR UNMIK USUN UNESCO UNHRC UY UNO UG UNDC UAE UNAUS UNDESCO UNEP UNCHC UNFICYP UNCHR USNC UNIDROIT UNCSD UNDP UNC UNODC USOAS UNPUOS UNCND USPS UNICEF UV UNCHS UNVIE UE USAID
VE VT VTPREL VZ VM VI VAT VN
WTO WHO WS WTRO WITH WTRQ WBG WI WHA WMD WMO WIPO WHTI WFP WB WWARD WA WEU WZ
XF XM XV XR XA XK XH XL XS XG XW XY XE XT XD XZ XX XTAG XQ XB XU XI XC
YM YI YMCS YE
ZR ZI ZANU ZU ZO ZP ZB ZL ZK ZF ZEALAND ZN ZA ZOELLICK ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 08ABUJA320, S/NF) NIGERIA: KANO BUSINESSMAN ALLEGES YAR'ADUA

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08ABUJA320.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08ABUJA320 | 2008-02-21 06:06 | 2010-12-08 21:09 | SECRET//NOFORN | Embassy Abuja

`

    VZCZCXRO3296
    PP RUEHPA
    DE RUEHUJA #0320/01 0520630
    ZNY SSSSS ZZH
    P 210630Z FEB 08
    FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2117
    INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
    RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 8760
    RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
    RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
    RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
    RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

` `

    S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000320

    SIPDIS

    NOFORN
    SIPDIS

    STATE FOR INR/AA, INR/B

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2033
    TAGS: PGOV PINR KCOR NI
    SUBJECT: (S/NF) NIGERIA: KANO BUSINESSMAN ALLEGES YAR'ADUA
    CORRUPTION

    REF: 07 ABUJA 2627

    Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for Reasons 1.4 (b,
    c, & d).

    ¶1. (S//NF) SUMMARY: XXXXXXXXXXXX alleged a close
    association between President Yar,Adua and Katsina native
    and rumored smuggler Dahiru Mangal. XXXXXXXXXXXX claimed Mangal
    is the President's "Mr. Fix It," taking care of "anything
    filthy" Yar'Adua needs done in addition to smuggling items
    for several wealthy Nigerian businessmen through Niger into
    Kano. Another Kano business contact corroborated XXXXXXXXXXXX 's
    allegations, but observed that Mangal no longer deals openly
    in illicit activity since Yar'Adua named him a special
    advisor earlier this month. As well, XXXXXXXXXXXX maintained that
    he had been approached by a man claiming to represent First
    Lady Turai Yar'Adua and seeking an USD 2 million pay-off.
    While Post cannot independently authenticate these
    allegations of corruption by the President or First Lady,
    Post has heard rumors of an emergent "Katsina clique" in the
    Presidential Villa. END SUMMARY.

    ¶2. (S//NF) Kano real estate entrepreneur and longtime Mission
    contact XXXXXXXXXXXX told PolOff February
    10 that Katsina native Dahiru Mangal, who XXXXXXXXXXXX contends
    deals in illicit smuggling of goods into Nigeria, is also
    known as President Yar'Adua's "Mr. Fix It." XXXXXXXXXXXX alleged
    a close association between the President and Mangal, dating
    to the former's tenure as governor of Katsina, and claimed
    the latter remains to this day Yar'Adua's "go-to man" to
    accomplish "anything filthy that Yar'Adua needs done."
    Mangal, XXXXXXXXXXXX said, is also the "go-to" for any wealthy
    Nigerian, who wants to import "just about anything" into
    Nigeria. He declined to state whether Mangal smuggled
    weapons, drugs, or persons into Nigeria. (On February 17,
    PolOff queried another Kano business contact, who
    corroborated XXXXXXXXXXXX 's accusations, however claimed Mangal no
    longer goes by "Mr. Fix It" since Yar'Adua officially named
    him a special advisor earlier this month. Allegedly,
    Yar'Adua instructed Mangal to cease any illicit activity if
    Mangal wished to enjoy official recognition by the President.
    The contact implied this may connote, inter alia, that
    Yar'Adua desires to maintain at least the appearance of
    respect for rule of law, and thus, does not want any of his
    close advisors openly involved in suspect activity.)

    ¶3. (S//NF) XXXXXXXXXXXX told PolOff XXXXXXXXXXXX
    several Nigerian businessmen who have employed Mangal's
    services over the past several years. Reportedly, Mangal owns a warehouse across
    the Niger border (likely close to the Katsina border with
    Jibiyya and Maradi) in which he stores hundreds of 40-foot
    shipping containers. XXXXXXXXXXXX claimed Mangal is able to
    import goods from around the world, including China. In
    return, Mangal requests a flat fee of 2 million naira (USD
    17,000), excluding the cost of goods. Approximately 100
    containers per month are brought into Kano, and goods are
    then delivered to clients or sold in Kano's Kurmi market.

    ¶4. (S//NF) Mangal also operates several legitimate
    businesses, XXXXXXXXXXXX asserted, including Mangal Airlines. The
    National Hajj Commission of Nigeria contracted Kabo,
    Bellview, Meridian, and Mangal Airlines for the December 2007
    hajj operations, which transported approximately 100,000
    Nigerians to Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage. (Note:
    Many Nigerian Muslims have criticized the GON's handling of
    the 2007 hajj claiming several thousand Nigerians were left
    stranded in Saudi Arabia and could not return to Nigeria,
    except without extraordinary hardship, and several others
    were never airlifted from Nigeria at all. End Note.)

    ¶5. (S//NF) Moreover, XXXXXXXXXXXX said XXXXXXXXXXXX
    XXXXXXXXXXXX had been approached recently by a man claiming to speak on
    behalf of First Lady Turai Yar'Adua. The person, who arrived
    at the meeting with XXXXXXXXXXXX in a Peugeot with a
    "presidential" license plate, told XXXXXXXXXXXX the First Lady
    would "allow" them to construct the homes so long as she is
    given an advance payment of 250 million naira (USD 2
    million). XXXXXXXXXXXX said he was willing to offer the First

    ABUJA 00000320 002 OF 002

    Lady twenty plots of land instead, to which the presumed
    emissary grimaced. The negotiations, XXXXXXXXXXXX told PolOff,
    continue.

    ¶6. (C//NF) NOTE: During a late January conversation with
    PolOff, XXXXXXXXXXXXX said XXXXXXXXXXXXX
    purchased an USD 10 million house in central London
    approximately 7 years ago, XXXXXXXXXXXXX.
    This house apparently was excluded from President
    Yar,Adua,s public declaration of assets in June 2007, which
    put his total wealth at approximately USD 7 million. END
    NOTE.

    ¶7. (S//NF) COMMENT: While XXXXXXXXXXXX is a trusted, longtime
    Mission contact who has provided veracious information in the
    past, we cannot independently confirm his statements
    regarding Mangal or the First Lady. Certainly, the man who
    approached XXXXXXXXXXXXX seeking a pay-off may simply have been
    attempting to exploit the First Lady's name for personal
    enrichment. We have heard rumors of the emergence of a
    "Katsina clique" in the Villa -- a group of individuals from
    the President's home state of Katsina who reportedly
    constitute Yar'Adua's inner circle and increasingly, control
    access to him. The surfacing of this group may be a
    corrollary to Yar'Adua's lack of national exposure (and
    hence, his deficiently broad support base) and his inability
    thus far to stamp his authority on the ruling People's
    Democratic Party. Rumors abound alleging that the First
    Lady, Special Advisor Tanimu Yakubu, and Minister of
    Agriculture Sayyadi Ruma are involved in corrupt practices.
    Reports of both the First Lady and Yakubu's taste for the
    high life and tendencies toward illicit enrichment surfaced
    during a December 2007 debrief by XXXXXXXXXXXXX
    outlined problems he saw in the Villa and cases XXXXXXXXXXXXX
    was closely watching (Ref A).
    Several contacts from XXXXXXXXXXXXX, moreover, maintain that while
    the President "appeared incorruptible" during his tenure as
    governor, his wife siphoned off millions in public funds for
    private use. Post will closely monitor these accusations and
    report any new developments. END COMMENT.
    SANDERS

`