RIYADH, 13 August — The Nigerian Embassy has cautioned Saudis and expatriates not to fall prey to the sham schemes floated on the Internet by some Nigerian crime syndicates.
This advisory from Maroof Lawal, economic counselor at the Nigerian Embassy, follows an e-mail message received by a Saudi businessman in Riyadh. He said the embassy has been working in close cooperation with the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry to alert them against such sham operators. They should either ignore the e-mails or inform the embassy on 4810546.
The sender in this case, Ambrose Ibeh, claims to be an attorney and close confidant of Mrs. Mariam Abacha, the former first lady and wife of the late Gen. Sani Abacha, former Nigerian president.
Lawal said such crime syndicates are not endemic to Nigeria alone but exist in other African countries as well. He said one of the factors that have spawned the growth of such organizations is the marginalization of Africa by western institutions like the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund whose terms and conditions for receiving financial aid have had an adverse impact on the African economy. This has led to further impoverishment of the African society and an upsurge in economic crimes, he added. — Javid Hassan
