Sample Group Exercise

Crisis Communications Exercise – Abuja Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

The Crisis

On August 25th, 2011, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Farida Waziri, was detained by Scotland Yard at Heathrow International Airport. Scotland Yard has been investigating Mrs. Waziri over the last six months for her alleged involvement and leadership in Nigeria’s largest drug cartel. Drug cartels are criminal organizations developed with the primary purpose of promoting and controlling drug trafficking operations.

The investigation into her cartel's activities in Nigeria began in 2010 when the police discovered a false business network operating in Abuja, Benin City, Lagos and Maiduguri, which was laundering "huge amounts" of drug-related money, they said in a statement issued shortly after Waziri was detained. Between 2008 and 2010, the cartel allegedly laundered more than $1.5 billion (913.6 million GBP), Scotland Yard said. Warrants have also been issued for the international arrest of a further seven people yet to be named, the police said in a separate statement. It is unclear if they include any other staff members of the Nigerian government.

Mrs. Waziri vehemently denies the allegations, claiming they are part of an orchestrated plot to unseat her and derail EFCC investigations into high-profile figures in Nigerian politics.

Background

Mrs. Waziri was confirmed by the late President Yar’Adua as EFCC chairman in May 2008, but refused to accept the position until she had been confirmed by the Senate.

Her appointment to this politically sensitive position has been often controversial. Shortly after her appointment, Waziri inspected the EFCC detention facilities to ascertain the conditions of suspects. In September 2008, Waziri said that allegations of corruption by former President Obasanjo and some former state governors could not be supported because the files did not exist or they had disappeared.

The daughter of a prominent Muslim cleric and a lawyer by training, Waziri spent the bulk of her career rising through the ranks of the police eventually becoming Commissioner, General Investigation and Commissioner in charge of X-Squad. She is also the author of Advance Fee Fraud, National Security and the Law. Mrs. Waziri has been used as an alias for many email scams.

EFCC arrest record

In August 2008, the EFCC arrested former National Deputy Chairman of the PDP, Bode George in Lagos and arraigned him and four others on a 163 count-charge of conspiracy, disobedience to lawful order, abuse of office and alleged illegal award of contracts worth N84 billion while he was chairman of the national Ports Authority (NPA). In October 2009, Bode George was found guilty and sentenced to jail for 30 months.

In April 2009 Mrs. Waziri stated that the EFCC was making arrangements to extradite former Minister of FCT, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, from the USA to face charges. She also stated that the Commission was handling more than 200 pending cases for corruption, money laundering, fraud, illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism.

In 2010, EFCC gave a list to the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress of 56 prominent Nigerians who had between them allegedly defrauded the nation of N243 billion.

Communication Objective

  1. Diffuse the crisis and secure the reputation of the Government-- create an effective crisis communications strategy on behalf of the EFCC and Ministry of Information to be delivered to government stakeholders, residents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, national and international media.

Group Tasks

  1. Design a crisis communications plan on behalf of the Ministry of Information and EFCC for state and non-state actors
  2. Draft a press release for delivery to the international and national media.

Elements of a Crisis Communications Strategy

  • Preparing for the Crisis
  • Communicating During the Crisis
  • After the Crisis
  • Critical Elements
  • Gather Data
  • Affected stakeholders
  • Crisis Teams
  • Crisis Centre
  • Crisis Spokesperson
  • Briefing Materials
  • Crisis Communications Plan
  • Communications Objective

Possible Stakeholders

Government

  • President’s Office
  • Federal Government ministries, agencies

Lawmakers

  • National Assembly members
  • Committees on justice, others

Other groups

  • International Authorities
  • International Donors
  • Political Parties
  • International Investors

Citizens, general public

  • Residents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Media – specify newspaper, radio, TV, social media

  • National
  • State- & Local-Government-level
  • International media organisations