Washington has, at least for now, shunned a request by Abuja for it to bar some public officials, including governors, from entering the United States by December.
America says the evidence on the ground is tenuous: It is suspicious of the real motives for the idea.
Yet, Nigeria refuses to give up and is digging deeper into documents to convince the U.S.
The request had been made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), based on speculation that those under the searchlight may use the Christmas holiday to escape arrest once their term expires next year, along with their immunity.
Washington�s response, which Abuja considers a setback, comes after months of pressure by Nigeria, which considers America a probable haven � because of its laws and policies � for officials it seeks to arrest.
“Christmas is the only big opportunity before the hand over of power after the elections for some of those under watch to move out of the country. We want to prevent that from happening,” an EFCC official stated.
The request was approved by Aso Rock but met a brick wall in the U.S. State Department due to “several conclusions not backed by hard facts.”
Nigeria had been pushing for a harder line by Washington against officials it alleges are corrupt.
This, in part, prompted EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, to disclose the names of several officials at the Senate some weeks ago.
America reacted that the issues touch on the rights of individual privacy.
“While we acknowledge the efforts of the Nigerian Government to battle graft, we cannot infringe on the rights of people to enter the U.S. if they have proper travel documents. We can only detain and question officials if strong evidence is presented; and for now, no such document exists,” a State Department official said.
The U.S. thinks it is more than a coincidence that most of those being investigated or whose travel papers are being asked to be cancelled oppose plans to amend the Constitution to extend the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Abuja and the EFCC have gone back to the drawing board and are dusting up assets declaration forms as well as investigations to convince Washington.