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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal (5734 Views)
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IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by Mecka: 8:17am On May 25, 2021 |
By Ade Adesomoju The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu , has engaged a new American lobbying firm to help the group win the support of the U.S. government. The one-year deal is slated to run for 12 months and is costing Mr Kanu and IPOB $750,000, which is over N300million at the current official exchange rate of N410 to one U.S. dollar. PREMIUM TIMES is in possession of the contract papers which Mr Kanu signed with the BW Global Group (BWGG LLC, in February. The firm, co-owned by Jeffrey Birrel and Alan White, is registered in Washington D.C, the U.S. capital, which has a high concentration of top government officials, lawmakers, policymakers, and opinion leaders, who IPOB is trying to engage on the rightfulness and necessity of its cause. The agreement, which took effect from March 1, 2021, came months after an earlier one struck by Mr Kanu with another U.S.-based lobbying entity, Mercury Public Affairs LLC, expired. Under the old contract, IPOB, through Mr Kanu, paid $85,000 per month beginning September 23, 2019, in addition to a $5,000 one-time compliance fee. That means Mr Kanu paid $1,025,000 for the 12- month contract, which is approximately N400million, based on the prevailing official exchange rate at the time (N380 to a dollar). In June last year, the Nigerian government fumed at the deal, which it claimed was aimed at discrediting the country in the U.S. and Europe. PREMIUM TIMES got the details of both the old and new deals from the contractors’ registration statements and agreements filed at the Foreign Agents Registration Unit of the U.S Department of Justice. The registration, mandatory under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 and for “public disclosure”, entails filing documents, including completed predesigned forms marked Exhibits A and B, and the agreements stipulating the full details of the contract. Failure to provide this information “is subject to the penalty and enforcement provisions established in Section 8 of the Act,” FARA says in one of the documents reviewed by this reporter. The services Nnamdi Kanu wants The terms of the successive contracts with a strict focus on the U.S appear to be part of Mr Kanu’s quiet but broad efforts to win the support of the U.S. government, Congress, policymakers, and opinion leaders for IPOB. The filings by BW Global Group (BWGG) after negotiations were concluded in February show that the firm was engaged by Mr Kanu to undertake “political activities” in the U.S. on behalf of IPOB. The activities include engaging the U.S. government, Congress and the Department of State, (the equivalent of Foreign Affairs Ministries in Nigeria and other countries) and engaging policymakers on behalf of IPOB. “The registrant (BWGG) expects to advocate on behalf of IPOB within the US Government (including the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of State) and otherwise engage policymakers and opinion leaders,” a part of the registration statement marked Exhibit B, read. The agreement, signed on February 24, 2021, by Mr Kanu, another representative of IPOB, Rita Eze, and a co-owner of BWGG, Mr White, provides further details of what the job entails. “BWGG shall provide the IPOB with services relating to the promotion of human rights and democracy and shall otherwise act as an advocate for the indigenous people of Biafra,” the document reads in part. It added that BWGG “may also undertake other similar services that might be referred to BWGG from the IPOB from time to time by mutual agreement.” The deal has the same scope as the expired contract executed by Mercury Public Affairs, LLC. Under that agreement, Mercury provided “strategic consulting and management services specific to issues facing the client in the areas of government relations and issues management.” The payment mode BWGG is expected to provide the agreed services under the new agreement to IPOB for a period of one year from March 1, 2021, through February 28, 2022. The firm is to receive its payment for “professional services” of $750,000 in monthly instalments. But $100,000 is to be paid at the signing of the agreement covering the first two months – March and April 2021 – “leaving a balance of $650,000”. The balance of $650,000 “will be paid in monthly instalments of $65,000 USD per month commencing on May 1, 2021, and paid successively on the 1st of each month until the total fee of $750,000 USD has been paid to BWGG by the client”. “Payment to BWG shall be by bank wire or bank draft,” the document added. The firm, under the agreement “will provide monthly status reports as deliverables regarding the progress and status of the project.” Nnamdi Kanu and the separatist campaign Mr Kanu, a British and Nigerian national, has a relatively strong footing in the U.K. His engaging lobbyists to win the support of the U.S. appear to be part of a broader move to win the buy-in of western powers in the separatist cause of IPOB. IPOB, known for its agitation for an independent Republic of Biafra, has had a series of violent confrontations with Nigeria’s security agencies. Weeks of deadly encounters between the group’s members and soldiers culminated in a military invasion of Mr Kanu’s home in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, the Abia State capital, in September 2017. Mr Kanu, who wants the Igbo-speaking states in Nigeria’s South-east carved out of Nigeria, fled the country in the wake of the military invasion. Following that encounter with IPOB militants, the Nigerian government obtained a court order on September 20, 2017, to designate the organisation a terrorist group and to proscribe it. But the British government has yet to recognise IPOB as a terrorist group. There is even suspicion by some officials of the Nigerian government that Britain facilitated Mr Kanu’s return to the U.K after he escaped the military invasion of his home. PREMIUM TIMES has yet to independently verify that claim. With the charges of treasonable felony still pending against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the Nigerian government has repeatedly fumed about the protection he and other IPOB members appear to be getting from the British government. Since fleeing Nigeria, Mr Kanu continues to engage IPOB members through his social media channels, with the government often attributing escalating violence in the Southeast region to IPOB. Many local and international human rights organisations have also condemned years of military attacks on the group that started as a peaceful organisation pursuing the rights of its members to self-determination. ![]() Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. [Photo credit: Daily Times Nigeria] https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/463466-exclusive-ipob-hires-another-lobbying-firm-in-fresh-n300m-deal.html 19 Likes 1 Share |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by VicDz1: 8:18am On May 25, 2021 |
Omo this is no longer a joke Ooo 32 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by CilicMarin: 8:19am On May 25, 2021 |
on May 1, 2021, and paid successively on the 1st Foolishness! 9 Likes 4 Shares
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Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by thaoriginator: 8:19am On May 25, 2021 |
![]() Mugu |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by Saao(m): 8:24am On May 25, 2021 |
Kanu is a smart man maybe smarter than the government. If kanu get the support of US government which I'm sure he will eventually get because of the style of buhari administration, then Nigeria disintegration is near. Earlier the government wake up to negotiate with these guys better for us all. 45 Likes 5 Shares |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by CilicMarin: 8:25am On May 25, 2021 |
[s] Saao:[/s] 3 Likes 4 Shares |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by Orubebe01: 8:26am On May 25, 2021 |
Biafra is coming even the almajiris can't stop it 49 Likes 5 Shares |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by alizma: 8:27am On May 25, 2021 |
From premium time? 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by mcbreeze: 8:27am On May 25, 2021 |
And some people are accusing him of eating IPOB money. Efulefu you see how the money is spent. 60 Likes 4 Shares |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by babyfaceafrica: 8:27am On May 25, 2021 |
Nansense |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by Nobody: 8:27am On May 25, 2021 |
Nnamdi Kanu leads others follow! God bless MNK! 13 Likes |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by nairalandankrah: 8:28am On May 25, 2021 |
Strategy is on point! 41 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by mekaboy(m): 8:28am On May 25, 2021 |
Lol. Another cashout opportunity. You told your gullible followers to suppory trump. Now you wabt biden to support you. Trump that the supported and matched for could not support them. These fools should ask kanu what happened to the first deal. ![]() ![]() Kanu chopping gullible igbo donations since 1855 ![]() ![]() Well he knows what he is doing. Happy Cashout ![]() ![]() ![]() https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4jBToOT6TQ 7 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by Fahdiga1: 8:29am On May 25, 2021 |
MNK the smartest man ever 41 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by PrinceOfLagos: 8:29am On May 25, 2021 |
This guy is smart Unfortunately for Nigeria , the president is a dullard and clueness 45 Likes 4 Shares |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by Nobody: 8:30am On May 25, 2021 |
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Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by CilicMarin: 8:32am On May 25, 2021 |
mrvitalis: Who will give you the referendum? Is referendum a kind of wrapper or cake? Please can you explain how it works? 2 Likes |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by Jimdph: 8:33am On May 25, 2021 |
Ready |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by ThatFairGuy: 8:33am On May 25, 2021 |
Will Nigeria be compelled by US? Base on what? Ipob miscreants, do you really have head to think 3 Likes |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by Chibuzoc(m): 8:34am On May 25, 2021 |
CilicMarin: Abooki Kura, how much did your zoo government spend in training repented boko haram terrorist and how much ransom was paid to fulani kidnappers by your useless government ![]() 23 Likes 2 Shares
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Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by Olominira(m): 8:35am On May 25, 2021 |
Buhari and his fulani ethnicity are disasters to Nigerian people 1 Like |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by tungamaje: 8:35am On May 25, 2021 |
Naira don finish kpatakpata. Ordinary 750000 dollars na im dey run for hundreds of millions of naira? BTW so no be Kanu dey personally chop the money as some people dey accuse am? 10 Likes |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by after4: 8:36am On May 25, 2021 |
Your darling mennaquine will be forced to. Ask Sudan CilicMarin: 6 Likes |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by big7: 8:37am On May 25, 2021 |
In the world of trading they say. "small profit is profit" in the world for this struggle "small progress is progress" 1 Like |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by FreeIgbos: 8:40am On May 25, 2021 |
I thought they claimed that IPOB is a broke group and that they lack any plan to actualize their Biafra except making noice online?? So they can cough out close to a million dollars just to lobby an American group to influence White House and they've been spending millions of dollars before now ![]() ![]() ![]() You zoo desperados can continue decieving yourselves but from the look of things, IPOB is doing serious underground works toward making their "online country" a reality. Like play, like play you will see UN, USA and UK demanding for referendum and let me see the idiotic president that will say no ![]() ![]() ![]() 32 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by mekaboy(m): 8:40am On May 25, 2021 |
tungamaje: Lol. You underate the scammer. Make he show u receipt. The white lady he said was representing them in senate was sued by an igbo man and she could not afford a lawyer. She had to apologise on the pages of the news papers. 3 Likes |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by OdumegwuOjukwu: 8:41am On May 25, 2021 |
mekaboy: Normally, you would have opened about 10 threads to say this. What has changed? 17 Likes 1 Share |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by mrvitalis(m): 8:49am On May 25, 2021 |
CilicMarin:The same people u are calling to act |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by okeyglm: 8:50am On May 25, 2021 |
waste of resources |
Re: IPOB Hires Another Lobbying Firm In Fresh N300M Deal by FreeIgbos: 8:51am On May 25, 2021 |
14 Likes 1 Share |
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