How Jonathan spent N1bn on U.S lobbyists – Report

Documentary evidence from the United States Department of Justice has revealed how former President Goodluck Jonathan spent $4,415,321 million (over N1.01 billion) on American lobbyists in 2014. The lobbyists were hired to provide various services intended to ensure a favourable image in the United States for his administration, according to filings for 2014 submitted to the U.S Congress by the Attorney-General.

The key beneficiary of the deals was PR firm, Levick Strategic Communications, which was hired by a subsidiary of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN Bizcom, to assist in a range of government affairs and public relations matters for $1,641,384.65 over a six-month period ending December 31, 2014. Mercury Public Affairs, LLC/dba Mercury/ Clark & Weinstock got $975,165.42 to provide bilateral diplomatic, economic and security relations between the U.S and Nigeria. Mercury was also expected to assist with media strategy and communications.

McBee Strategic Consulting was paid $135,000 for media relations and provided “commercial communications and media relations services on behalf of the foreign principal to increase Nigeria’s media profile, promote news media and social media engagement, and media monitoring.”

For the sum of $49,500, Potomac Square Group provided public affairs consulting and contacted the media and U.S. government officials on behalf of the administration. Some other lobbying firms also provided services for the Jonathan administration but did not report any finances. Interestingly, embattled former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), spent over $1 million on American lobbying firm, Squire Patton Boggs, in 2014.

Dasuki, who has been kept under house arrest in the last two weeks by the Department for State Services, engaged the lobbyist to advise his office “on security and defence issues.” Dasuki paid $476,605.00 for the six-month period ending June 30, 2014 and $696,667.27 for the sixmonth period ending December 31, 2014. Dasuki was appointed NSA on June 22, 2012 by President Goodluck Jonathan to replace Gen. Owoye Azazi.

He is expected to go on trial soon for alleged infractions pertaining to the purchase of weapons under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. In the Aerospace, Defence and Government Services section of the lobbying firm’s website, it states: “Our Aerospace, Defence and Government Services (ADGS) practice, with over 100 lawyers in multiple practice areas, provides legal and policy support to businesses in this critical industry sector across a wide range of local, regional and international markets.

We focus on issues that regularly impact the ADGS industry – from compliance with government contracts and export regulations, to management of government audits and investigations, to negotiation of supply chain agreements and conducting due diligence reviews.” When Sunday Telegraph called the office of the department’s co-lead, Jack Deschauer, he said to be in a meeting.

He did not respond to an email seeking more information on the services the firm provided Dasuki. The All Progressives Congress also hired a lobbyist, Prime Policy Group, through Delano Family and Burson-Marsteller, which helped to introduce party officials to Washington, DC policymakers (members of Congress and the Administration), election organisations, and think tanks. No finances were, however, reported.

In his reaction, the Managing Director of Redstrat, Mr. Chude Jideonwo, said hiring foreign PR firms to launder the image of the country, organisation or individual is legitimate, adding that such services are not expected to be free of charge.

Managing Director of Bobby Taylor Company, Mr. Bobby Taylor, said the firms listed in the transaction are not faceless, “so the question that should be asked is whether the service was rendered? If yes, I think there isn’t much issue there. What should be a source of worry is why Nigerian firms are not normally involved during such transaction.”

He further berated Nigerian leaders for not believing in Nigeria, adding, “how can we talking of investment in the country when our leaders do not support their own?”