Fred Ajudua
Encyclopedia
Fred Ajudua is a Nigerian accused of being an advance-fee fraud scammer. This is a form of fraud that appears to be a field in which Nigerian entrepreneurs were pioneers, and remain prominent. The victim receives a letter or email asking for assistance in handing a very large amount of money, in return for which they will earn a handsome commission. If they respond they are asked for money to cover some "fees", then for more money for other expenses, and so on. Each time it just needs one more payment before the funds can be released... To some Nigerians, the scammers are viewed as a sort of folk hero or Robin Hood
, getting money out of gullible westerners in repayment for colonial mistreatment.
Fred Ajudua studied law and graduated from the University of Benin
, Edo State
. In March 1994, Newswatch Magazine published an article saying that I.G Aliyu Atta, at that time Inspector-General of Police, canceled a meeting with senior police officers in order to receive Ajudua. Aliyu Atta sued the magazine for libel but did not succeed.
In October 2003, Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu
, Chairman of the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), said that Ajudua had twelve cases pending against him including an advance fee fraud of 1.6 million Euros and another of $1.5 million, both committed in 2001. He was accused of collecting money from Nelson Allen, a Canadian who lost $250,000. A German was said to have lost $350,000 to him. He was said to have tricked more than $1.69-million out of two Dutch nationals between 1999 and 2000.
On July 26, 2005 the German woman, Frieda Springer-Beck, agreed to an out-of-court settlement after a long series of inconclusive court appearances dating back to 1993.
After his imprisonment, while waiting trial for fraud, he was appointed to teach basic law. Ajudua was granted bail to seek medical attention in India on 3 February 2005. Hearing that he was back in Nigeria, the EFCC attempted to arrest him on 20 March 2007 at a beer parlour in Ibusa. The move was thwarted by armed thugs. The commission has appealed to anyone who has information that could lead to the fugitive's arrest.
In 2007, the Administrative Panel of Inquiry on Reports of Alleged Corrupt Practices recommended that Ajudua's wife should not run for political office on the basis of an EFCC report that she had been involved in a conspiracy to obtain $7.85M and N3Million under false pretense and had used money from fraudsters to campaign for election, although the panel noted that there was no direct evidence linking her to the activities of her husband.
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
, getting money out of gullible westerners in repayment for colonial mistreatment.
Fred Ajudua studied law and graduated from the University of Benin
University of Benin (Nigeria)
The University of Benin - also known as UNIBEN - is one of the country's major universities.-History:The university was founded in 1970 by the military government of Samuel Ogbemudia.It teaches in a broad range of subjects, including a medical school...
, Edo State
Edo State
Edo State is an inland state in central southern Nigeria. Its capital is Benin City. It is bounded in the north and east by Kogi State, in the south by Delta State and in the west by Ondo State.-History:...
. In March 1994, Newswatch Magazine published an article saying that I.G Aliyu Atta, at that time Inspector-General of Police, canceled a meeting with senior police officers in order to receive Ajudua. Aliyu Atta sued the magazine for libel but did not succeed.
In October 2003, Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu
Nuhu Ribadu
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is a former Nigerian government anti-corruption official. He was the pioneer Executive Chairman of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , the government commission tasked with countering corruption and fraud...
, Chairman of the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud and money laundering...
(EFCC), said that Ajudua had twelve cases pending against him including an advance fee fraud of 1.6 million Euros and another of $1.5 million, both committed in 2001. He was accused of collecting money from Nelson Allen, a Canadian who lost $250,000. A German was said to have lost $350,000 to him. He was said to have tricked more than $1.69-million out of two Dutch nationals between 1999 and 2000.
On July 26, 2005 the German woman, Frieda Springer-Beck, agreed to an out-of-court settlement after a long series of inconclusive court appearances dating back to 1993.
After his imprisonment, while waiting trial for fraud, he was appointed to teach basic law. Ajudua was granted bail to seek medical attention in India on 3 February 2005. Hearing that he was back in Nigeria, the EFCC attempted to arrest him on 20 March 2007 at a beer parlour in Ibusa. The move was thwarted by armed thugs. The commission has appealed to anyone who has information that could lead to the fugitive's arrest.
In 2007, the Administrative Panel of Inquiry on Reports of Alleged Corrupt Practices recommended that Ajudua's wife should not run for political office on the basis of an EFCC report that she had been involved in a conspiracy to obtain $7.85M and N3Million under false pretense and had used money from fraudsters to campaign for election, although the panel noted that there was no direct evidence linking her to the activities of her husband.