HOW LATE PRESIDENT BUHARI’S IMPOSTOR USES CYBER-SCAMMERS AS NIGERIA’S IMAGE-MAKERS THROUGH PROF ITSE SAGAY AND ABIKE DABIRI: From Fred Ajudua 419 Signature to the Philippines Experience
The Philippines National Police website adorned with the portrait of the National Police Chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin, Jr., opens its Anti-Cybercrime Group Departmental page with a three-page analysis of internet scam under the caption: “Nigerian Scam.” This is the undeniable stigma attached to Nigeria as a nation and Nigerians as citizens of an independent African nation not only in the Republic of Philippines but in nearly all the nations of the world.
Nigeria is a country where scammers either in cyberspace or politics are celebrated, while honesty and honorable vocations are treated leprously as signature to poverty. This explains why the current Federal Government of Nigeria lacks the moral lever to question the horrendous stigma of a nation of scam and scammers. Can any sensible Nigerian with a reasonable sense of moral judgment swear to an oath that the same Muhammadu Buhari who rode to power under the banner of anti-corruption and anti-insecurity is the same person currently hiding under the cloak of elusive Presidential protocol in Aso Villa?
There is no denying the fact that this stigma which the Federal Government pretends not be aware of is well founded to the embarrassment of those Nigerian citizens who have chosen the paths of honesty and responsible vocations. Against this background is the current global identity index which defines every Nigerian citizen first as a scammer until proven otherwise.
Few days after entering the shores of the Republic of the Philippines a close relative sent me some money through Western Union money transfers. The next day, typical of an Igbo High Traditional Chief, adorned with my usual sparkling white-flowing caftan, a red-fez cap and single-lined red coral beads to match, I entered BDO Bank in Pasay Metro Manila to cash the money.
After fulfilling all the paper formalities and just at the point of payment the cashier realized that I am a Nigerian, even though I submitted a non-Nigerian international passport. She immediately requested me to present a second identity card outside the international passport. Infuriated I demanded to know her reasons. She simply told me she was sorry but that I must present a second identity card in order to claim my money.
I decided to go to another branch of the same BDO Bank to satisfy my rage to the fullest. Getting to the next branch I went into the process of filling the necessary spaces in the provided form as requested without revealing my previous experience. Just at the same stage of payment the cashier realizing that I am truly a Nigerian, walked to her boss and after whispering to him came back to inform me that she was sorry I have to provide two identity documents to cash my money. I again demanded to know her reasons and she simply said that was their policy. I decided to speak to her boss who calmly informed me there was nothing he could do because that is the Government policy towards Nigerian citizens.
Still reeling in anger I quickly rushed to my base and brought all the available identity cards including my expired Nigerian passports and scattered them on his table and told him to select from them and pay me my money. He then took the Health Insurance identity card issued to me by the Government of Ghana combined with my international passport and instructed the cashier to cash my money. Not only that, I was also required to authenticate my signature three times against the normal two times, just because I am a Nigeria.
Few days later, I went to the same branch of BDO Bank to remit the sum of 120 US dollars to Nigeria for a seriously sick relative, but I was blatantly informed that sending money to Nigeria is prohibited by Philippines’ Government financial regulations and that if I want to send money to anybody in Nigeria I should do so through any of the neighboring African countries such as Ghana, Togo, Benin and Cameroon. I was clearly informed that the punitive policy against Nigerians is in response to the notoriety of Nigerian cyber-scammers and fraudsters in the country. I did not doubt him because I know my country even better than he stated.
Seven instances between 2020 and 2022 will suffice to validate this fact and vindicate such punitive stigma against Nigerian citizens by the Republic of the Philippines.
First, the Vanguard issue of September 8, 2020 reported that four Nigerians led by one Sunday Promise, all claiming to be students were arrested for hacking and duping a Philippine Bank of the sum of 100 million Philippine Pesos, about 1.8 million US Dollars. This same news was reported by the Guardian issue of 9 September, 2020.
Second, in March 3, 2021 the Philippines News Agency (PNA) reported the bursting of a Nigeria-led online scam ring that swindled people of the sum of PhP 3.3 million, about USD 58,870. The culprits were identified as Evans Amara Okeke, Chidibierre Junior Ezema and their Filipino girlfriend.
Third, the Guardian of 23 February, 2022 reported that the Philippines Government was deporting three Nigerians for engaging in love scam and fraud. The Nigerians were Shaka Hashimu Dinsu, Anih Chinedu Miracle and Gabriel Daniel Evans.
Fourth, the Daily Post issue of June 18, 2022 reported that four Nigerians were arrested for online scam in the Philippines. The culprits include Augustine Onyekachi Nkowachi, Tosen Samuel Ogunloye, Chibuike Joseph Nwokoro and Christopher Okeke.
Fifth, the Manila Bulletin of 11 August, 2022 reported that two Nigerians and their Filipino collaborator were arrested for multiple bank frauds totaling into millions of pesos in which 1.4 million pesos in cash was recovered from them. These culprits were Samuel Nonso Esomchi, Taye John Bamidele and their Filipino girlfriend Gladys Rias Francisco.
Sixth, the Philippines News Agency in its November 3, 2022 issue reported how a Nigerian cyber-love scammer Ikenna Onuoha and his Filipino girlfriend Jacel Paderan duped their victim of the sum of 2.2 million pesos.
Seventh, in August 2022 Nigerian Maritime students in Philippines protested against their country at their embassy in Manila for abandoning them. To state the obvious, it takes only a Government of scammers to send her citizens on foreign scholarship only to abandon them.
An Igbo adage says: “Onye nwanneya na-agba ajo egwu na-ako oko na igbogbolo anya”, to state it in my Western Igbo dialect, (a person whose kinsman is performing an awful dance scratches his eyelids). The question is does the Nigerian Government recognize the fact that her citizens are performing awful dances in foreign countries to the detriment of the nation’s image? The answer simply stated, is how can the godfather of crime be a crime-buster? I will elaborate this assertion from the fulcrums of investigative historicity and personal experience.
My hometown Ibusa in Delta State is notorious for one thing only—cyber fraudsters and scammers traditionally known as 419 with Mr. Fred Ajudua a notorious fraudster as the signature. Today two high-profile sons of the town Frank Atuche are serving various terms of imprisonment for cases of fraud not related to Fred Ajudua’s notorious 419-type scam but punitive political measures inspired by President Muhammadu’s islamization policy with Fred Ajudua as the undercover agent.
Mr. Frank Atuche who founded Bank PHB from scratch as a one-man business was accused of illegally approving bank loans worth 25.7 billion naira (55 million US Dollars at official exchange rate and 35 million US Dollars at Black Market). He was consequently sentenced to six-year term of imprisonment without option of fine and the refund of same amount after less than two-year summary trial under Muslim Justice Lateefa Okunnu. The same bank was clandestinely sold by the Nigerian Government at the paltry sum of 25 billion naira, less than the misappropriated amount to a member of the Muslim cabal Alhaji Isa Funtua and renamed Keystone bank without the legal approval of Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) as required by law.
Similarly, Senator Peter Nwoboshi a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was framed up for charges of fraudulently securing contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) worth 3.6 billion naira in 2021because the Muslim ruling class want to extend Islam to the predominantly Christian South by nominating a Muslim renegade convert from Christianity Ned Nwoko to replace him as Senator. He was summarily tried by the Muslim-led Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as in the case of Frank Atuche and under two years sentenced to seven-year term of imprisonment.
On the other hand Fred Ajudua who graduated as a lawyer from University of Benin under Prof. Itse Sagay—current Presidential Adviser on Anti-Corruption never engaged for one day on any legal employment or business. Fred Ajudua is reported to have boasted that he bought Prof Itse Sagay his first Mercedes Benz car from the proceeds of his 419 scams, and so long as Prof Itse Sagay remains Presidential Adviser on Anti-Corruption his multiple scam cases will never see the light of the day. Let us take a short promenade of his scam cases.
In October 2003 the former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr. Nuhu Ribadu stated that Mr. Fred Ajudua had twelve pending cases of Advance Fee Fraud scam. The question before us is from 2003 to 2023 (20 years after), which of these twelve cases has been diligently tried and concluded before the Nigerian Court of law?
In July 2005, the German widow duped of the sum of 350,000 US Dollars Frieda Springer-Beck by Fred Ajudua was forced by the EFCC to settle out of court with Fred Ajudua after being massively bribed by Fred Ajudua. Similarly, in October 14, 2014, the case against Fred Ajudua brought by the two Dutch businessmen he defrauded the sum of $1.69 million was struck out because the men were forced to abandon the case after they reported threats by Fred Ajudua to their lives and the EFCC told them they would not guarantee their security in Nigeria.
The two pending similar high profile scam cases against Fred Ajudua before the EFCC—those of one million dollars he scammed Mr. Ziad Abu Zalaf that began in 2005, and Nigeria’s former Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Ishaya Bamayi who was defrauded of the sum of $8.4 million and which commenced for trial in 2014 are still protected from trial by Prof Itse Sagay with his authority as Presidential Adviser on Anti-Corruption.
With clandestine official protections at the Federal level by Prof Itse Sagay and at the State level by Governor Dr Ifeanyi Okowa who appointed Fred Ajudua’s elder sister and accomplice in scams Delta State Commissioner of Land, Survey and Urban Development Mrs. Kate Onianwa, Fred Ajudua has continuously constituted himself into an embarrassing land grabber from his community which he combines with imperious physical intimidation and murder of his victims.
In his “Police Investigation Report: – Re-Case of Conspiracy, Unlawful Possession of Firearms, Malicious Damage, Forgery, Threatening Violence and Conduct likely to cause Breach of Public Peace” with reference number CR:300/x/FHQ/ABJ/FSARS/TH/Vol.49/146 of 21st April 2017, the Commissioner of Police in-charge of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) Mr. D. V. Yakadi explicitly concluded:
“Meanwhile from the outcome of the investigation, a prima facie case of conspiracy, forgery and malicious damage to property and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace has been established against Chief Fred Ajudua, Hon Pat Princess Ajudua, Mr. Nwabuwa Azikiwe, Friday Nwokocha, Chief Augustine Atuche; while Hon. Joseph Ijeh, Richard Ijeh should be charged for aiding and abetting and offence and Barrister Peter U. Lotobi is to be used as prosecution witness.”
It took four years and seven months, precisely from 21st April, 2017 to 8th October, 2021 before the Nigeria Police under intense pressure were made to unearth the matter for formal prosecution. On 8th October, 2021, the following criminal proceedings under Charge Number: FHC/ABJ/CR/371/2021 were officially filed by the Nigeria Police before Hon. Justice Taiwo Obayomi Taiwo sitting at Federal High Court 8, Abuja for arraignment and commencement of prosecution. The case never saw the light of the day after Prof Itse Sagay the Presidential Anti-Corruption Adviser instructed Justice Taiwo to strike out the case without arraigning Fred Ajudua and his cohorts, which he did.
It should be recalled that in 2007, an Administrative Panel of Inquiry on Corrupt Practices had recommended that Mr. Fred Ajudua’s wife Mrs. Pat Ajudua who is currently a lawmaker with Delta State House of Assembly should be banned from seeking elective political office in Nigeria for being a major accomplice in the conspiracy to defraud some individuals of the sums of $7.85 million and 3 million naira respectively.
Fred Ajudua not only swindled his Umuodafe Village of 50 Million naira which he claimed was bribe for the Supreme Court Judges presiding over their land case with Asaba Community, but through his clandestine influence over the Chief Judge of Delta State Hon. Justice Theresa Diai caused his puppet Magistrate C. N. Ugeh of Ibusa Chief Magistrate Court 1, to sentence the Chairman of his Village land committee 80-year old Chief Michael Nwabuoku to three months imprisonment for contempt of court, for demanding to know the rationale for bribing the Supreme Court Judges.
Fred Ajudua has also been involved in multiple murders of innocent and defenceless citizens under the protection of the Nigerian Government. These were: 1. The Divisional Police Office (DPO) in-charge of Ibusa, Chief Superintendent Mrs. Mercy Dagogo using one Friday Nwaokocha who confessed to the Police as his hit-man on 29 June, 2010; 2. Mr Emeka Onianwa of Umuehea Quarters, Ibusa. 3. Chiazor Nwadei, whose father Mr. Eugene Afamefuna Nwadei, a staff of Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, was paid two million naira by Fred Ajudua for the murder of his son.
4. Mr. Odigwe Ezeike, who as the leader of agitators against Fred Ajudua’s fraudulent appropriation of 206 plots of family land was lured into Mr. Fred Ajudua’s house for peace settlement where he was forced to drink poisoned substances in the name of wine. 5. Mr. Tony Nwabuwa, a former President of Umuodaoukwu Family Union was likewise poisoned by Mr. Fred Ajudua in his house for refusing to approve his theft of 206 plots of land. 6. Mr. Augustine Ohadike—the Treasurer of Umuodaukwu Family Union was similarly clandestinely murdered by Mr. Fred Ajudua for exposing the forgery of the deed of conveyance connected with the 206 stolen plots of land. 7. Mr. Livinus Ajufo then Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Delta State Direct Labour Agency (DLA) was gruesomely assassinated at the instance of Mr. Fred Ajudua for opposing his wife’s aspiration for Delta State House of Assembly.
This is the same man the Presidential Adviser on Anti-Corruption Prof Itse Sagay not only protects as his godson but recommended to the Chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Abike Dabiri as her Special Coordinating Assistant; in which Fred Ajudua’s assignment is to mobilize his co-scammers mainly across Africa and Asia Continents whenever Abike Dabiri will be visiting their base countries, to contribute money for her in return for Government protection for their scam activities through quick Embassy intervention in any case of fraud against them and the sale of Consular cards in place of expired Nigerian passports to legalize their expired resident permits.
In 2019, I was privileged to witness this Abike Dabiri Scam when she visited Freetown, Republic of Sierra Leone and I saw all the Nigerian ethnic unions and social groups taxing their members as contributory gifts for her. Similarly in 2021 while in Kigali, Republic of Rwanda, I witnessed how officials of the Nigerian High Commission quickly intervened to demand the immediate release and deportation of six Nigerians arrested for cyber crime instead of allowing them to face trial in the country. My neighbor then in Hotel La Difference, Kumushimba Mwiza District, Kigali, happened to be one of the culprits and so I was privileged to follow the whole proceedings. The question is why can’t Nigerian citizens in foreign nations engage in scam with impunity if their Government protects them?
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