950805

Pak traders warned

against Nigeria's

fake 'syndicate'

KARACHI: The Nigerian High Commissioner in Pakistan, A. R. Yunusa, has cautioned the Pakistani business community against what he called the "fraudulent activities" of the syndicate known in Nigeria as '419'.

Addressing a press conferene in Karachi on Saturday, Yunusa referred to "fraudulent letters" which, he pointed out, some individuals and members of the business community in Pakistan have been receiving from some individuals who are members of the '419' syndicate.

He recalled that this particular issue had been the subject of his press conference which he addressed last year in Islamabad just before Nigeria's National Day celebrations. He provided a photostat copy of the letter to newsmen at the press conference. The letter was written to an individual in Pakistan.

The High Commissioner said that as a result of his discussions with various chambers of commerce & indsutry last year, some individuals did refer the letters to the High Commission. In response, he gave advice to most members of the chambers of commerce that they should either return the same letter with condemnation or send it to the Mission which in turn would trasmit same to the appropriate Nigerian authorities for further investigations.

In the letter, he pointed out, the writer is always proposing a business venture and seeking the co-operation of his foreign partner who is always solicited to use his business letter pad in raising an invoice for the work that has never been done.

In most cases, he continued, the claim was usually for as much as 30 million dollars. The 'foreign partner' was usually told that his share just for using his letter-head would be about 30 percent of the total amount to be paid in settlement of the contract done for the 'Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

He continued to explain "Towards the end of the deal when the amount is about to be released then the 'foreign partner' would be asked to pay his contribution - certain amount, usually in thousands of US dollars - which would be given to the officials of the Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Nigeria so as to facilitate early payment of the claims".

The Nigerian High Commissioner said that, as is always the case, after payment of that amount i.e. share for facilitating urgent payment, the 'foreign partner' will not hear from them as that was the end of the matter and foreign partner will never hear again from his Nigerian partner.

GREED FOR EASY MONEY

Yunusa observed that unfortunately the work of these misguided Nigerians was being encouraged by the few positive responses they received from some 'greedy hasty decision without giving a second thought to such offer as they think they could make easy money just in a fraction of a second.

The irony of the matter is that whenever such gullible persons come to the High Commission for visa and are questioned during interview they would not confess that they are planning to go for that kind of 'bogus business', he said.

The Nigerian High Commissioner said that while the Mission was trying to assist and prevent them from being cheated by those fraudulent miscreants, they, on the other hand, would not co-operate with the Mission.

He said some of the members of the 'syndicate' have now resorted to telling their customers that they should not apply for visa through the High Commission and that those invited, should go to Nigeria direct and that arrangements would be made to secure visa for them on arrival at the airport in Nigeria.

Yunusa categorically stated that the "Nigerian Immigration does not grant visa on arrival at the airport in Nigeria".

The federal government has taken notice of these fraudulent activities with serious concern and sincere determination to deal with the members of the "snydicate' just like the way the armed robbers or drug traffickers are being dealt with now, the Nigerian High Commissioner said.

Already, since late last year, he said, a special tribunal has been established to deal specifically with these misguided fradulent devils. Some of the leaders of the 'syndicate' have already been apprehended and efforts were being intensified to investigate and arrest those who are still at large, he added.

Yunusa said he has already reiterated his appeal to the leaders of both FPCCI and KCCI and requested them to alert their members.

AN OPEN MARKET

Replying to a question Yunusa said that foreign investment is allowed in the privatization programme of his government as Nigeria is an open market and so many nationals were participating in national economy.

To another question, he said that current co-operation between Pakistan and Nigeria has been geared up and it was now growing day by day.

He called for more visits by Pakistani business delegations to Nigeria. He said those who have visited have identified many items like sugar and cement plants, agricultural machinery, pharmaceutical and surgical equipment etc for export to Nigeria.

Asked to identify the members of 'syndicate '419', this High Commissioner pointed out that since they are working underground he cannot give their number. He said that in this crime the conviction is 10-year term.

He told another questioner that those arrested so far are Nigerians and a few foreigners.

Earlier, in his opening statement the High Commissioner gave a resume of the present state of economy of Nigeria.

He said that privatization or deregulation of government corporation and financial institutions has been re-emphasised by selling on lease some of the major government corporations such as Nigeria Airways.

Later, he had a meeting with the President and members of FPCCI. He is scheduled to have a similar meeting with Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Sunday.-APP