by Terry Morgan
CHAPTER 29
"It's the American Embassy, Jonathan."
It was an ordinary Wednesday morning when Jonathan took the phone call from the US Embassy in London. He had spent the previous evening at home finalising the draft bid to the European Aid West Africa (EAWA) fund for Jacob Johnson. There were large gaps that needed filling and no word from Johnson for two weeks. Jonathan, though, was still feeling confident enough with his performance of a few weeks ago to expect the Nigerian to emerge again in the next few days. He wanted to be ready.
"I have the deputy Legal Attache, Scott Evora, for you Mr Johnson," said the female American accent, "Are you able to take the call?"
Jonathan raised an eyebrow to himself but said yes.
"Mr Walton?"
"Yes."
"Scott Evora, deputy legal attache, US Embassy. Not sure if you're familiar with the US's worldwide legal attache offices, Mr Walton, but basically we're FBI. In my case, we're FBI's office in London. Heard about the FBI?"
"I am aware," said Jonathan.
"Good. Cut to the chase, Mr Walton - Jonathan is it? Been checking your website. Management consultancy specialising in helping businesses bid for grants and international aid. Would I be right?"
"Spot on," said Jonathan.
"Good business, Jonathan?"
"We keep busy."
"Come across any Nigerians in your line?"
Talk about cutting to the chase, thought Jonathan. Was it just a co-incidence? "Sometimes," he answered.
"Anything shady?"
"Always," joked Jonathan wondering where this was leading. In the brief case at his feet was the draft bid for Jacob Johnson.
"Sure, you bet. Done anything for organisations wanting USAID? United States Aid?"
"No, never," said Jonathan honestly.
"Might they ever cross your path?"
"Certainly, not so far, but I'm fully aware of USAID. Have to be in this business."
"Sure, I understand. West Africa, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Jonathan. Done anything there?"
"Yes, but only using EU aid money."
"Ghana? Sierra Leone?"
"Yes."
"Sound? Honest? Above board? Anything ring alarm bells?"
"Always, but we only help writing the bids, perhaps give some advice on lobbying etcetera. We don't deliver on the ground. If it's fraud you're referring to, then that's where it usually happens - the delivery end." Jonathan tried to laugh.
"Dead right. And not getting any better, huh?"
"We are very selective who we take on," Jonathan added.
"OK, sure you are." There was a brief pause from the man called Scott Evora - a clicking sound as if he was tapping a pen on his teeth. "Now, listen up. It might be useful to meet. Any chance? Get down here to the Embassy, Jonathan? Me take a ride up to you? What do you think?"
"What have you got in mind?"
"Broaden our discussion out a bit. Frankly we need some eyes and ears. Anyone with an eye for fraud, theft or money laundering linked to aid funding would be useful. Sounds like you're just what we're looking for."
"Sure," said Jonathan, suddenly seeing a glimmer of light. If things got more difficult for either himself and especially for Jan, who better than to have a friend from the FBI on board. They agreed. Jonathan invited Scott Evora to visit him on the Friday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Jonathan decided to widen his bedtime reading about aid fraud in the USA. Some of it was well known, other parts less so. Nigerian criminals, he noted, were the most widespread fraudsters. No wonder Evora had mentioned them at the start. They were costing the US alone an estimated one to two billion dollars each year and most of it went undetected or unsolved. There were the arrests and prosecutions like the nearly two million dollars of USAID fraud by two aid workers in Liberia, but it was only a fraction of what was going astray.
The US government was well aware of huge losses that were undermining its aid programmes. As with Europe and as Jim had found through his bitter experience, there was a political culture around foreign aid that stifled criticism or any serious investigations. Meanwhile, millions of dollars were finding their way onto back streets just from money given for anti-malaria drugs. Once granted, USAID was unable to track the money properly and there were hundreds of examples of it being funnelled, mismanaged and used in unintended ways. 'The surprise is that anyone is surprised. Twenty percent of aid is lost. If that happened in the private sector then USAID would have been shut down.' One quote said.
"Yes," thought Jonathan as he yawned and checked the time. "But it's mainly the private sector that's creative enough to invent the new fraud schemes. The private sector will always stay a step ahead - which meant there were probably dozens of people like Jan's new friend Guido out there."