It’s disappointing but not surprising: As the US Department of Justice released a statement on a coordinated investigation by the FBI on aggravated cyber fraud and money laundering. The 80 names sound familiar, just as the others on the ever resonating list of wire fraud. Just a week ago, we read the story of Invictus Obinwanne Okeke, whose glory was short-lived when the FBI took a close look at his activities and discovered cyber fraud amounting to millions of dollars. The numbers are likely going to increase, it’s only a matter of time and another criminal syndicate based in Nigeria will be busted.

It’s no longer news, we see it, we know it, we live it, it’s a way of life. That’s the only way to explain the gravity of financial crimes perpetrated under the nose of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Department of State Security Services (DSS), the Nigerian Police, and every other agency that has a stake in Nigeria’s financial trust and image. That’s how most Nigerians have reacted to the development.

That it took the FBI to uncover what it described as “the biggest cybercrime in the US history” which originated in Nigeria, questions not only the credibility of Nigerian financial crime institutions, but also their reason for existence.

The dent of cyber fraud has been escalating in Nigeria with little attempt from these agencies to quell it. The connecting factors that enable it are too evident to be excused. From bank managers (who help fraudsters fence their money) to bureau de change who help them convert it. And then there is extravagant lifestyle that cannot be justified through legit means of living.

The FBI followed these traces from the Business Email Compromise (BEC), (a sophisticated technique applied by the criminal syndicate to divert funds from companies or their clients to accounts designated by the fraudsters), with the help of other agencies from around the world to uncover the international base of the criminals in Nigeria. The funny thing is, the EFCC isn’t part of it, they probably saw it in the news like everyone else, and are yet to make any statement about it.

That has prompted Nigerians to ask: “Could it be that the FBI doesn’t trust the EFCC enough to share such intelligence with them”?

In May, the EFCC issued a statement to discredit another EFCC that was mounting roadblocks in highbrow areas of Lagos, extorting people on the allegation of internet fraud. The EFCC’s spokesman, Tony Orilade told the general public:

“For the avoidance of doubt, it is not part of our operational practice to mount roadblocks and we do not hire agents. The criminal elements that mount the Lagos roadblocks are not our staff and we have no connection whatsoever with their criminal activities.

“Similarly, the Commission wishes to disown a letter of invite, purportedly emanating from one DSP Dorcas Bukola, via an email address: {drealhelen@gmail.com}, inviting unsuspecting members of the public to our office.

“While the said DSP Dorcas Bukola claims to be acting on behalf of the EFCC, we strongly urge the general public and particularly those who have received the email to ignore the invite as such a character is not in the employ of the Commission and has no authority to act on our behalf.”

The statement and the events surrounding it seem to justify what many believe: that in a country where there is a fake version of antigraft agency, and there is nothing the original agency could do other than warn the public, no sane person would expect them to pull the needed strings on a sophisticated cyberfraud syndicate. And that could be the reason why the EFCC was totally ignored by the FBI.

Others say that although the EFCC have secured some convictions in cybercrime, the agency seems to give more concentration on government related corruption.

However, there is a perceived void that the EFCC’s action and inaction has created, and it has undermined its international position in the fight against financial crimes.

Nigerians believe that the story would have been different if the investigation was initiated in Nigeria by any of the agencies, and collaborate with their international counterparts to bust the syndicate. “It would have made a better image for the country, and the rest of the world would have seen a government committed to rid itself of criminal elements.” They said.

While there has been a total condemnation of these crimes that have swindled billions of Americans’ hard earned dollars, voices out there are calling for more effective financial crime agencies in Nigeria that will shun partisanship and do their jobs with integrity.

Dear Nigerians in Diaspora,

I’ve been looking for a way to tell you this without making it look like we do not appreciate all that you’ve been doing for us over here in Nigeria. Honestly, we truly appreciate your wonderful gifts of clothes, phones, laptops, cash, and even cars. We know that things are not so rosy over there as some Nigerians think, but you still share from the one you have. I want to say a big ‘Thank You’ on behalf of all of us here, who have been benefitting from your generosity in one way or the other.

I know you must be wondering what I want this time. Oh well, you have been giving us so much already, but Oliver wants some more. This time, we want both the fishes and the lessons on how to catch them.

Please, don’t blame us for wanting to learn how to catch fishes. You know how bad things are in Nigeria. Our education system is poor, NEPA is still doing blink-blink (even though they are now privately owned), the rate of unemployment is increasing, recession is still hitting us badly, our population is growing out of proportion, corruption is still dealing with us, and insecurity is getting out of hand. See, there is hunger in the land (even kidnappers are accepting yams and palm oil as ransom. Lol). I’m not saying all these to discourage you from coming home; I’m only trying to make you see that we still have plenty of works to do. We need your help before hunger and frustration send all our young intelligent ones out of the country.

I know you must be wondering what I wanted you to do. Don’t worry, I have a comprehensive list of some of the things you can do to help alleviate our pitiable conditions and heal the country. The list is not too much, so there’s no need to fear. Some of the things I have in mind that you can do for us are:

1. Bring Home the Knowledge from the Global North: You know, the Igbo people always say: “Onye nje nje ka onye isi-awo mara ihe”. This means that a traveller is wiser than the elderly that hasn’t travelled out of his locality. Your journey to the land of the wise man has exposed you to the wise man’s knowledge. Because of this, you are wiser than those of us here, irrespective of age, education and social standing. We, therefore, need you to come home and teach us those wisdoms.

We want to know how they do their things there. We want to know how they plan and manage their education system. We need knowledge of their technological advancement. Their medical discoveries are also important to also. Tell us how they do their security stuffs. In fact, come home and teach us everything you have learnt over there. If you are wondering how you can achieve this, then continue reading because we will get to that.

2. Invest in Start-Up and Established Local Industries: There are so many local industries that are trying to raise their heads above the sea level. Examples of such Nigerian companies are the textile and fashion industries, shoe manufactures, plastic manufacturers, hi-tech, crop and animal farming, and so many others. You can invest in them to make them come up a little bit closer to the international standard.

Our start-ups also need a lot of touches. They need partners, loans and grants. They also need supervision and mentoring. Most of them do not really understand the intricacies of running a sustainable business. You can decide to take some of them under your wings and nurture them. Trust me, there are so many people with wonderful innovative ideas that need people like you to help them put these ideas to reality.

3. Exporting our Products: I know that some of our products are not up to the international standard, but I believe that the story will change if the producers know that they will compete with international companies. So you can decide to be the exporter of our local products.

We have so many things that will be profitable out there. One of them is our food. I heard that Nigerian foods are ‘hot cake’ there. You can help our local farmers by buying from them and then selling them out there to make your own profit. Even our fashions make good sales there. Anyway, just ask around, I believe Nigerian Export Promotion Council can help you with the right information.

4. Establishing Companies: This will be very wonderful, especially if the companies will also help in bringing home the knowledge acquired from the Global North. The advantage of this can never be overemphasised considering that it will reduce unemployment and, hopefully, insecurity in the country. Some of our brothers and sisters in the diaspora have already taken up this venture, but we need more. And please, don’t bring down the quality of goods and services because you are in Nigeria. Make your products and services to be of the international standard. We need good things in Nigeria, and our local companies also need to learn from you.

5. Awarding Scholarships: We have a lot of brilliant young ones who couldn’t afford to sponsor themselves through primary and secondary education. There are also those who would love to go for courses that are not available in Nigerian universities. You can, please, organise yourselves and find ways to sponsor these people.

6. Pick-Up Jobs in Nigeria: I have noticed that most successful establishments in Nigeria have people like you at their managerial levels. We need more of this, even if it’s on a temporary basis. Come to Nigerian and pick up some jobs. You can go for the private sector or the public one. But if you ask me, I’ll say you should go for the public sector because a lot of changes need to be made there. But if that proves difficult, you can then consider the private sector. Whichever one it is, just give us the privilege of working with you.

Ok, I think I’ve given enough ways through which you can help us here in Nigeria. Please, I’m not saying that the cash and other gifts brought home don’t solve problems. The truth is that we need to find ways to earn from here other than waiting for you to send almost everything we need.

More so, we need to rebrand Nigeria and make it a safe haven for all of us. Nigeria can be healed if we act now, and fast too. As far as I can tell, this will not be possible without the combined efforts of all Nigerians, whether home or in diaspora.

So, keep the gifts coming, but please consider my ideas.

With love from,
Ozzy.

Nigeria has become an object of ridicule for many foreigners. Everyone seems to quickly point an accusing finger against us whenever they feel treated poorly in the country or by her citizens.

I stumbled on an article by a Canadian, J. Buorgeois that says,

”Effective immediately, we will be closing our operations in Nigeria. Over the last year, we have faced numerous examples of employees and contractors extorting the company.

While we kept giving Nigerians a chance to gain skills and employment, we cannot run a company when we can’t trust the people who work for us. Any company interested in conducting business in Nigeria can reach out to us to learn how to avoid being scammed by technical resources.

It is a kick in our face that we spent so much time trying to give Nigerians the benefit of the doubt to have this happen. Customers who wish to outsource, are well-advised  to seek an India-owned company for the best results.”

As much as I empathize with you, I will quickly draw attention to this fact – company culture says it all.

Gone are those era you take workers for granted. No worker will want to leave an enabling environment. Often times, business owners accused workers of being dishonest. But the truth is, you can’t hire great talent and pay peanuts. You’ll get a monkey business in the end.

Do I support bad attitude at work? Capital no!

I am a man of integrity. Being a freelance writer who works with many foreign companies, I can attest to the fact that some of them want to pay peanuts to Africans for quality work in return. I can’t remember the countless offers I had to turn down because the valuation was ridiculous. This type of mentality is being transferred into the African work environment by some foreign companies. Africans are being used as a machine with very low compensation.

Mind you, there’s no health insurance, no house loan, no retirement package and no job security. These terms are not acceptable in your country (i.e. the Western world).

The main reason behind this is – ”exploitation”. Many see African countries as land with great opportunities and resources with cheap labour.

Enough is enough. Before you lay accusing fingers on Africans, Nigerians and employees as a whole, look into the mirror. It is a game between two thieves, the smarter thief won.

• Have you done the needful?
• Do you operate a fair system?
• And what culture are you practicing?

You can’t buy employees trust by mere employment, you earn their trust by leading by example. Respect is reciprocal. Remember, who you determine who you attract.