[allAfrica.com] [AfricaFocus,_Washington,_DC] You're a Terrorist! US Tells Nigerian Military Officer, Impounds His Money Vanguard (Lagos) NEWS September 26, 2004 Posted to the web September 27, 2004 By George Onah Calabar You're a terrorist! US tells Nigerian military officer, impounds his money A top military officer serving in Calabar, Cross River State, has been classified as a terror suspect by the United States (US) Government. As a result of this, the officer has been prevented from carrying out a money transfer within Nigeria through a first generation bank in the country. Sunday Vanguard investigations revealed that all money transfers carried out across the world are screened by the US Government. This process effectively bars certain transactions by persons worldwide whose names appear on a list of terror suspects. Trouble started for the military top brass in Calabar when he sent ten thousand naira through First Bank in a Western Union Money Transfer to his relation in Zaria. Sunday Vanguard learnt that forty eighty hours after the transfer, the addressee called to inform the military officer that the money had not registered at its destination in Zaria for withdrawal. On enquiry in Calabar, the officer was told that the money had been seized by American security operatives on the suspicion that he (the officer) was a terrorist. Jolted by the revelation, the officer left for his command headquarters where he caused one of his staff officers to write to the bank demanding for official and written explanation on the matter. In the letter with reference number 13 Bde/GarHQ/29/A dated April, 30th 2004, signed by the administration officer, the military command requested "that you please confirm the position of this transaction so that the officer will be able to solve the domestic problems for which the money was meant." Responding, the bank, in its letter under reference number 120/WU/LAB/ADE also dated 30th April, 2004 and signed by the branch operations manager, demanded for the "birth certificate or sworn affidavit showing place of birth date and country" of the officer as well as (his) Nigerian Army identity card. The bank copied the letter to Western Union product headquarters, Lagos. Surprised by the bank's request, the military authorities wrote back to the bank expressing disdain at the turn of event. According to the letter with reference number 13 Bde/Gar/HQ/8/A dated May 5, 2004, the command was "not aware of any banking regulation that stipulates that the transfer of N10,000 in Nigeria would require such information requested by the bank". It then asked the bank to "please confirm the seizure so that alternative arrangement could be made to solve the problem." The bank wrote back to say that it had not changed its position. Sources close to the bank spoke of possible mix up in the action of the American authorities, saying that many terror suspects on the US security agencies list bear Muslim name and that the officer may have been branded a suspect because of his Muslim name. When Sunday Vanguard went to the brigade to know the officer's plan to retrieve his money, another officer ordered a military police sergeant to frog-jump this correspondent "for nosing around in military barracks". But when the correspondent introduced himself as an ex-service man, the officer relaxed the order, advising the reporter to go to police headquarters in Calabar "because the matter has been reported to the police for investigation." In the interim, Sunday Vanguard discovered that the military command wrote a letter dated May 5, signed by a Lt. Col. With reference 13/Bde/Gar HQ/8/A to the Commissioner of Police in Calabar requesting him to investigate the matter and "acquaint this brigade with your findings and advice". At the police headquarters Diamond Hill, Calabar, Sunday Vanguard stumbled on a report signed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police dated 25th August, 2004, in which the police said there was actually a money transfer transaction on April 26, 2004 under control No 6586424497 through Western Union Money Transfer. The police said in their report that when Lagos office of the money transfer outfit was contacted, it wrote back to say that certain names were listed in US government watch list on terror suspects and companies all over the world and were banned not to send or receive money from such persons. Subsequently, every money transfer to or from names contained in the list is usually subjected to investigation before release. The Lagos office then reaffirmed the Calabar office's position that the officer should produce photocopy of birth certificate/sworn affidavit and identification". The report conclusively showed that the police was helpless in recovering the money from the bank. It then advised the army officer to "take civil remedy to redress the matter."   =============================================================================   Copyright © 2004 Vanguard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). =============================================================================