New York [RR] ABUJA–Credible intelligence reaching Republic Reporters show that Nigeria Intelligence Agencies Perceive The Nigerian Diaspora Community, Particularly The US-Based, As A Potential Problem To The Stability Of Nigeria State, Emeka Ugwuonye c/o  Tochukwu E. EZEOKE culled to us hours ago. According to him, after the court hearing in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, the Economic And Finance Crimes Commission (EFCC) in collaboration with SSS, and DIA plotted to re-arrest him after the Court hearing over the allegations against him. 

[PHOTO: EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Lamorde ]

He said: “Once the case was over and the Judge left the bench, I shook the hands of the prosecutors and congratulated them for their brilliant argument. This is my style: I always go over to shake the hands of my opponent in court to commend his argument, even when it was a failed argument like theirs. I turned to exchange pleasantries with some of my supporters, including some friends that I had not seen in years. At that point, the EFCC officers, together with the prosecutors and the SSS men, left the courtroom. I was in great spirit and happy to see my friends. I finally waved goodbye to the court staff and left the courtroom. I then realized that the EFCC and the SSS officers were gathered in the lobby apparently waiting for me to come out of the courtroom. I smiled and nodded at them and entered into the elevator with some of my friends. The officers were watching me all the time. Then all of a sudden, one of the SSS officers hastily made a call on his mobile phone and the men all began to run downstairs in great haste via the stairwell. At that point, one of my supporters, who suspected the motive behind the rush downstairs, pulled me out of the elevator before the door could close. I was rushed back into the courtroom.

“Two of my supporters could not come out of the elevator quickly enough. So, they rode downstairs in the elevator without knowing why I was pulled out. The two later came back to the courtroom to tell us what happened when the elevator door opened downstairs. The SSS officers were right in front of the elevator doors waiting for me to come out. They were puzzled when they realized that I was not in the elevator. Some of my supporters shut the courtroom doors from inside. Then one of my men called some people downstairs to check what was going on. It was confirmed that the SSS operatives were still waiting for me. Something fast was done to get me out of the court premises without me passing through where they expected.
 
“About 10 miles away from the court, I called a friend that was still in the court to check what was going on. I heard that the men were still waiting for me by the entrance to the courthouse. I made a call to one of my EFCC contacts to try to know what was happening. I had failed to speak with any of them the night before, which was how I would have known the latest in the minds of the leadership of the EFCC. (I may now admit that while Mrs. Waziri was the Head of the EFCC, we had a contact in her inner circle of staff, through which I was able to get information in matters like this). I was surprised that I had no inkling of what happened yesterday. I was taken by surprise as to the details of the drama.

He added: “There were more things I learned from my contacts. I learned that the collaboration between the EFCC and the SSS is actually wider and deeper than just my case. There is a special project involving the Nigerian intelligence agencies such as the SSS, the NIA and the intelligence unit of the EFCC, which is the unit that is handling my case. Also some officers of the Nigerian Embassy in the US and the Nigerian High Commission in London are part of this project. The project is known as “Operation OFNIDIA”.
 
“This is supposed to be some special project for the Nigerian Government. But the summary of its objectives could be narrowed down to three key elements. First, the Nigerian intelligence agencies perceive the Nigerian Diaspora community, particularly the US-based, as a potential problem to the stability of the Nigerian Government at any point in time. Second, those who run this project believe that the Nigerian Government could and should have some controlling influence over the Diaspora Community. Third, they believe that the best method of gaining such controlling influence at the present time would be for the Nigerian intelligence agencies to infiltrate the Diaspora community through their Internet chat-rooms and social networking groups and other gathering points.
 
“I had heard about this program early last year, but I dismissed it as a hoax. I could not believe that the same mindset that prevailed during the Abacha regime could resurface in the present administration. But what was being confirmed by my contact, who seems to know about this program through the involvement of the EFCC is difficult to overlook. There are certain methods known to have been used under this program. First, EFCC and the SSS are jointly tracking every Western Union or other money transfers from members of the Diaspora to Nigeria. You may think that this is for law enforcement purposes, but that is not the aim here. If this was for law enforcement purposes, you would expect them to be interested in transfers from either all countries or countries that are considered high risk for trans-border crimes. But there are only two countries they are interested in: US and Britain.
 
“Another version of the explanation that I received was that those who run this project believe that the Internet could be a great platform for the Diaspora to mobilize. Under Operation OFNIDIA, the Nigerian intelligence officers have been monitoring almost every major list-serve used by Nigerians. I learned that the officers use multiple email addresses to register on these listserves and monitor discussions among members. Last year, they introduced a method of recruiting members of our Diaspora to pose with fake names with the objective of sowing discord in these chat groups, preventing every opportunity to build genuine consensus on any issue.
 
“Apparently, my informant is fully aware of all that is going in many chat-groups. He denies working for the project, but he seems to know a lot about these things. I asked if he could name anyone in the Diaspora he knew to be working for Operation OFNIDIA (By the way, the word, OFNIDIA, comes from the reversing of the word, “info” and the first three letters of the word “Diaspora”. The full name of the project is “Operation Information Diaspora”). I was curious to know if there were any of their agents or recruits that I could identify on the nets. My contact could not tell me for sure, but he strongly believes that a person using the name “Jerome Niang Yakubu” is on their list of overseas recruits. He is certain that is not the person’s real name and that the same person is registered with other names. He also mentioned quite a number of other names that did not really surprise me because they are mostly fake names. One of the individuals he named had worked closely with one of the opposition parties in the last elections and was recruited sometime in May of last year after his party lost in the elections.

Read full text beneath:

I send this update to you from a location in Nigeria, the details of which I am not at liberty to disclose yet. And today is Friday, February 17, 2012. I would start by thanking all friends, well-wishers and supporters, who have sent me so many messages through emails, Facebook, Twitter, phone calls, etc, to make inquiries about my well-being, upon learning of what happened to me on Thursday, February 16, after the court hearing.
 
I had a long and tiring day in court. The situation became very tense at the end of trial when it became clear to me that some SSS officers were trying to isolate me from my supporters who were everywhere in court. The EFCC officials pointed me out to them. When I saw one EFCC officer pointing me out to a man in a blue striped shirt, I thought both men were staff of the EFCC. It was later that I learned that another EFCC officer had pointed me out to yet another man.
 
Once the case was over and the Judge left the bench, I shook the hands of the prosecutors and congratulated them for their brilliant argument. This is my style: I always go over to shake the hands of my opponent in court to commend his argument, even when it was a failed argument like theirs. I turned to exchange pleasantries with some of my supporters, including some friends that I had not seen in years. At that point, the EFCC officers, together with the prosecutors and the SSS men, left the courtroom. I was in great spirit and happy to see my friends. I finally waved goodbye to the court staff and left the courtroom. I then realized that the EFCC and the SSS officers were gathered in the lobby apparently waiting for me to come out of the courtroom. I smiled and nodded at them and entered into the elevator with some of my friends. The officers were watching me all the time. Then all of a sudden, one of the SSS officers hastily made a call on his mobile phone and the men all began to run downstairs in great haste via the stairwell. At that point, one of my supporters, who suspected the motive behind the rush downstairs, pulled me out of the elevator before the door could close. I was rushed back into the courtroom.
 
Two of my supporters could not come out of the elevator quickly enough. So, they rode downstairs in the elevator without knowing why I was pulled out. The two later came back to the courtroom to tell us what happened when the elevator door opened downstairs. The SSS officers were right in front of the elevator doors waiting for me to come out. They were puzzled when they realized that I was not in the elevator. Some of my supporters shut the courtroom doors from inside. Then one of my men called some people downstairs to check what was going on. It was confirmed that the SSS operatives were still waiting for me. Something fast was done to get me out of the court premises without me passing through where they expected.
 
About 10 miles away from the court, I called a friend that was still in the court to check what was going on. I heard that the men were still waiting for me by the entrance to the courthouse. I made a call to one of my EFCC contacts to try to know what was happening. I had failed to speak with any of them the night before, which was how I would have known the latest in the minds of the leadership of the EFCC. (I may now admit that while Mrs. Waziri was the Head of the EFCC, we had a contact in her inner circle of staff, through which I was able to get information in matters like this). I was surprised that I had no inkling of what happened yesterday. I was taken by surprise as to the details of the drama.
 
Later in the evening of yesterday, I was able to get better information on what transpired. There has been some collaboration among certain officials who are so worried about some of the opinions I have published about the Government. Those people have been trying to get the SSS on my back. They have returned to the old position that my statements pose a threat to national security. Easily, the SSS is aware that I am facing criminal trials with the EFCC, and there has been some partnership with the EFCC on how to get me. EFCC is hoping that the SSS would have enough basis to arrest me. An EFCC contact further confirmed yesterday the rumor I had been hearing since I arrived in Abuja two days ago. The officials may have had a hand in the attack on my manager on Sunday, February 12.
 
Both the EFCC and SSS had believed that I got into the country last Friday, which was indeed the original date I had planned to arrive in Nigeria. It was at the last minute that I changed my arrival date from February 12 to February 15. So, those who attacked my manager probably believed I was in the car with him that Sunday night. My source disclosed that a top official of the EFCC expressed surprise on Monday, February 13, when he learned that I was not yet in the country. Contrary to my initial belief that the attack on my manager was an attempt to frighten me into abandoning my trip to Nigeria, it now seems that the plan could have been far more sinister.
 
There were more things I learned from my contacts. I learned that the collaboration between the EFCC and the SSS is actually wider and deeper than just my case. There is a special project involving the Nigerian intelligence agencies such as the SSS, the NIA and the intelligence unit of the EFCC, which is the unit that is handling my case. Also some officers of the Nigerian Embassy in the US and the Nigerian High Commission in London are part of this project. The project is known as “Operation OFNIDIA”.
 
This is supposed to be some special project for the Nigerian Government. But the summary of its objectives could be narrowed down to three key elements. First, the Nigerian intelligence agencies perceive the Nigerian Diaspora community, particularly the US-based, as a potential problem to the stability of the Nigerian Government at any point in time. Second, those who run this project believe that the Nigerian Government could and should have some controlling influence over the Diaspora Community. Third, they believe that the best method of gaining such controlling influence at the present time would be for the Nigerian intelligence agencies to infiltrate the Diaspora community through their Internet chat-rooms and social networking groups and other gathering points.
 
I had heard about this program early last year, but I dismissed it as a hoax. I could not believe that the same mindset that prevailed during the Abacha regime could resurface in the present administration. But what was being confirmed by my contact, who seems to know about this program through the involvement of the EFCC is difficult to overlook. There are certain methods known to have been used under this program. First, EFCC and the SSS are jointly tracking every Western Union or other money transfers from members of the Diaspora to Nigeria. You may think that this is for law enforcement purposes, but that is not the aim here. If this was for law enforcement purposes, you would expect them to be interested in transfers from either all countries or countries that are considered high risk for trans-border crimes. But there are only two countries they are interested in: US and Britain.
 
Another version of the explanation that I received was that those who run this project believe that the Internet could be a great platform for the Diaspora to mobilize. Under Operation OFNIDIA, the Nigerian intelligence officers have been monitoring almost every major list-serve used by Nigerians. I learned that the officers use multiple email addresses to register on these listserves and monitor discussions among members. Last year, they introduced a method of recruiting members of our Diaspora to pose with fake names with the objective of sowing discord in these chat groups, preventing every opportunity to build genuine consensus on any issue.
 
Apparently, my informant is fully aware of all that is going in many chat-groups. He denies working for the project, but he seems to know a lot about these things. I asked if he could name anyone in the Diaspora he knew to be working for Operation OFNIDIA (By the way, the word, OFNIDIA, comes from the reversing of the word, “info” and the first three letters of the word “Diaspora”. The full name of the project is “Operation Information Diaspora”). I was curious to know if there were any of their agents or recruits that I could identify on the nets. My contact could not tell me for sure, but he strongly believes that a person using the name “Jerome Niang Yakubu” is on their list of overseas recruits. He is certain that is not the person’s real name and that the same person is registered with other names. He also mentioned quite a number of other names that did not really surprise me because they are mostly fake names. One of the individuals he named had worked closely with one of the opposition parties in the last elections and was recruited sometime in May of last year after his party lost in the elections.
 
I wanted to know how this program applied in my case. That was explained to me too. Apparently, there was a constant coordination of attacks on me on certain chat-rooms and major steps by the EFCC at several points. There was a plan to thoroughly discredit me in certain chat groups before and while I was in detention, and continuing after. He also indicated there has been some frustration that the plan had not worked well against me. Some even have the strangest and most ridiculous belief that I was becoming a celebrity out of my detention. Only a warped mind would envy a man who suffered five months of cruel and inhumane detention and who continues to lose a lot of money in the cost of defending himself in court. These people are really pathetic sometimes. In certain circles within the EFCC, people are still trading blames for the manner I was able to tell the truth about Mrs. Waziri from detention cell. It is a notorious fact that several officials of the EFCC were disciplined or queried on the suspicion that they had been working for me.
 
Well, it has been a long night and a long day for me. In the end, I didn’t know what to believe anymore. Some people are after me and I have been somewhat in hiding. That’s the part that I hate the most. But all my friends suggest I lie low for now. Anyway, tomorrow (Saturday) I shall be in my village with my people. I learnt that the youths of my village have mobilized themselves against anybody coming to arrest me during the events of tomorrow. I spoke with the youth leader this afternoon and I explained to him why he must make sure that there would be no resistance to any attempt by the SSS to arrest me. I explained to him that I would rather follow them than allow a confrontation between them and the youths, which could lead to some violence and even bloodshed. It was only when I made it clear to him that I would not be attending the event unless he could give me an assurance that he agreed to control the youths tomorrow.
 
That is it for now. God bless and have a great weekend.
 
Emeka Ugwuonye VS. EFCC
Update February 17, 2012, Abuja
 
Tochukwu E.EZEOKEReading, BerkshireTel. +447748612933

____________________________________________________________________________________________

REPUBLICREPORTERS…..standing between civilization and anarchy….

Most Popular

Exclusive: IBB, Buhari,Top CBN-Officials Are Boko Haram Sponsors--Sheik Sani Haliru12511 views IMF-Sex-Scandal (Video/PHOTOS):32-year-Old, Nafissatou Diallo, Is A Victim Of Sexual Attack, In The Hands Of Arrogant ...4941 views BIAFRA: Adekunle's Wartime Interview With German Randolph Baumann, Of Stern Magazine August 18, 1968 In Igweocha3453 views MASSOB 2011:Chronicles Of Brutality In Nigeria--Reports2283 views 2011 Joke:"Imagine Discredited Bolaji Aluko A Vice Chancellor": FG Appoints "VCs, Registrars" For Purported "New Vars ...1711 views