The legal representative of the Almushahid Initiative for Transparency and Accountability (AITA) has formally sought the intervention of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun in Abuja.
This appeal follows a detailed petition filed by Sunday Liberty, legal representative of AITA, on behalf of his client, Ambassador Aminu Majidadi, concerning a fraudulent scheme under the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN).
Liberty’s petition alleges that Alhaji Ya’u Umar, Alhaji Bala Suleiman Jos, Richard Gbawuan, and Ishaku Garga orchestrated a complex scam, deceiving over 150 Nigerians. The scheme involved persuading individuals to secure advanced payment guarantees (APGs) under the pretense of contracts facilitated by MHWUN.
Gbawuan, purportedly acting as the coordinator, along with his accomplices, promised significant financial returns upon payment of a 30 percent equity. After securing the APGs, they became evasive, leaving their victims without the promised returns.
In 2018, Umar introduced Majidadi to a business venture involving the construction of social amenities in various communities in Jos, Plateau State. Umar, claiming that these contracts were managed by the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), assured Majidadi that an equity payment of one percent of the total project sum would lead to a 30 percent immediate monetary return.
Despite initial reluctance, Majidadi was persuaded by Umar, with further assurances from Jos, Gbawuan, and Garga, who presented themselves as NULGE officials.
Majidadi, along with his business associates, collectively provided approximately 150 million Naira to the named individuals. Upon receiving these funds, the accused became elusive and evasive, failing to fulfill their promises. Confronting Umar about the situation led to numerous life-threatening incidents, with hired thugs and clandestine assailants trailing Majidadi. One such incident involved a shootout, where Majidadi narrowly escaped with his life, thanks to the intervention of his police detail.
Gbawuan reportedly boasted about his involvement in these attacks, threatening Majidadi’s life should his demands for monetary restitution persist. This dire situation compelled Liberty to petition the Inspector General of Police, seeking a thorough investigation and protection for Majidadi. The petition underscores the urgent need to address the criminal conspiracy, fraudulent misrepresentation, and threats to life orchestrated by Umar, Jos, Gbawuan, and Garga.
AITA has also used this medium to alert the public about these fraudulent activities, urging them to avoid any dealings with the implicated individuals. The organization provided documents supporting their claims and called on victims to contact their headquarters in Abuja to further expose the criminal activities. Additionally, the former governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, has confirmed that the accused are not the health practitioners they claimed to be but are, in fact, criminals.
The organization also called security operatives to be vigilant over the pervasive nature of fraudulent schemes and the need for vigilant legal and law enforcement measures to protect innocent citizens from such deceitful practices.
More details as the investigation unfolds.
