Obinwanne Okeke and the FBI 77: When Fraud Becomes a National Culture By Dodoh Okafor
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) this week published the names of 80 people it said were high-profile internet fraudsters.
The FBI alleged the 80 individuals duped vulnerable people and business of hundreds of millions (if not billions) of dollars.
Interestingly, 77 names on the FBI list are Nigerian.
It cannot be a coincidence the indictment came days after Forbes celebrated Obinwanne Okeke, an alleged serial fraudster, was picked up by U.S. security agents.
Fact is: The eyes of the U.S. criminal justice system are on the booming Nigerian fraud enterprise, and there can be no looking away now. I won’t be surprised if more arrests are in the offing.
The sad reality is that there are more high and low profile Nigerians who make their money through fraud and criminal activities than many are willing to admit.
After petroleum, the most enduring memory of Nigeria for many across the world is fraud, be it through the internet, in the market place, in sports (think of the age-group tournaments), in business transactions, relationships, academia, politics, religion and just about every other endeavour of humanity. You will find millions of fraudsters, male and female, in every field Nigerians play in.
I have read some feeble attempts, by several ill-informed public commentators, to ethnically profile the business of fraud, and tag it an “Igbo enterprise.”
Nothing in my estimation could be more mischief-driven, if not ridiculous.
I believe that Nigeria needs to decide on what to do with Ndigbo finally. Nigerians cannot claim Chinua Achebe to be one of them and renounce Obinwanne Okeke as an Igbo man.
Chimamanda Adichie, Kanu Nwankwo, Ngozi-Okonjo-Iweala, Dora Akunyili, Chinwetelu Ejiofor are among the over 20 Igbo men holding elected offices in various parts of Europe and other areas.
Nigerians cannot claim the glory for the exploits of hundreds of Igbo men and women and reject the shame of birthing the 77 men on the FBI list.
I do not think it makes sense to cherry-pick on this matter.
If Obinwanne Okeke and his comrades, in the fraud enterprise, are Igbos and not Nigerians, then we may as well settle it once and for all. Let us proclaim Achebe as Igbo and not Nigerian. Deal?
I will leave Nigerians to the freedom to choose whether or not to embrace or reject the Igbos with all the baggage they bring.
I want to say something more profound about the motivation for the pervasive culture of fraud in Nigeria.
Why is it easy for the average Nigerian to get himself immersed in fraudulent practices in whatever endeavour he finds himself engaged?
While many may have their perspectives concerning the issue, I am convinced that the Nigerian nation itself is built on fraud. Its leadership is anchored on deception, while public engagements are often undertaken with fraudulent intent.
So for me, the moment you are born in Nigerian, it is very likely that your first encounter would be with individuals whose entire lives have been firmed on dishonest practices.
Pray, who can beat the Nigerian political class in dishonest practices? I don’t know about you, but in my estimation, the political leadership in Nigeria today takes the prize for the most daring fraud since the origin of man.
While the Obinwannes of this world set their eyes on dispossessing a few individuals of a few million or perhaps hundreds of millions of dollars at most- Nigeria’s current political leadership in Abuja has successfully defrauded an entire nation, taken the food out of the mouths of millions and sent thousands to their early graves- some never even made it to the graves.
It is a shame that while Nigerians continue to debate on the ethnic identities of the men on FBI list, the real con artists in Abuja continue to perfect their craft of spewing lies, propagating falsehoods and stealing an entire nation blind – while wearing the mask of sainthood.
Which fraud can be more significant than being led by a President who allegedly does not possess the necessary academic qualification outlined in the constitution as criteria for being President? Remember, this man rose to the highest rank in the army – without a single academic certificate to his name. What more, he went to court to defend his qualifications – which, if the evidence before the court is proven, did not exist.
Can Obinwane be that adventurous?
While Obinwanne and co are in chains for offering fake romance to American ladies. The men, who made endless fake promises to Nigerians four years ago, reign as kings in Aso Rock, fed with public money – while we pay from our children’s wealth.
It is a shame that the ethnic profilers who are quick to tell you the ethnic identities of the FBI 77 have refused to beam their searchlight where the greatest fraud in recorded history is being perpetrated.
To be clear, the current scam masters in Aso Rock are not the first to hoodwink an entire population. Every other occupant of the office has played the con game to some degree. A publication by the Economist magazine in June 2004 alleged that an estimated $400-billion had been stolen from Nigeria since the 1970s.
The Economist is a globally reputable magazine that achieved its renown by publishing facts, spending huge sums on research and hiring the best journalists. When such publications make a claim, likely, they are not writing to grab readers’ attention. Pray, how much of this $400 billion did Mr Okeke and “his Igbo brothers” steal? Zilch would be my answer.
Indeed, there can be no reason to support fraudulent practices by anyone. It is a shame that a man would deploy his God-given intellect to steal from others.
I am deeply embarrassed that men, who could have channelled their gifts wisely to make any amount they desire legitimately, would make fraud their vocation.
I would support their prosecution and subsequent punishment when found guilty.
Perhaps, they would, at the end of their prison term, appreciate the eternal truth shared by Jesus Christ when he asked: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his very soul?
However, I believe it is high time we began to re-evaluate the economic climate that pushes people into believing that they can only succeed by engaging in criminal endeavours; lying about certificates they do not have; falsifying their age to play age-group tournaments or gain employment into public service; lie about their tax returns to win contracts; or perhaps change their names or religious orientations to win favours.
My conviction is: As despicable as the choices of the Obinwannes of this world are, the boys are nothing but small fries in the vast ocean of fraud and dishonesty that is Nigeria.