NPF reacts to Nepalese’s ₦1.6b fraud allegation linked to Force Headquarters + Video

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has responded to a trending video in which a Nepalese businessman accused police officers of complicity in a scheme that allegedly defrauded him of ₦1.6 billion and linked to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

Force Public Relations Officer and a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Anietie Iniedu, made this known to The Eagle Online.

He said although no formal complaint had been lodged with the NPF, he had used his discretion to direct the Police Complaints Unit to investigate the allegations.

Iniedu told The Eagle Online: “We saw the video yesterday, and following my instruction that the case should be investigated, our officers called VeryDarkMan (VDM), but his call was picked up by someone who claimed he was not available. 

“We called again today, and again someone else claimed he was unavailable. 

“Today, VeryDarkMan put out another video saying the complainant has gone to another agency to lodge a complaint.”

The Nepalese businessman, identified as Bista and based in Malaysia, said he lost ₦1.6 billion in what he described as one of the boldest scams uncovered in Nigeria.

He alleged it involved meetings held inside the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja. 

He shared his account in an interview with VDM.

According to Bista, he was invited to Nigeria in 2023 by a Cameroonian associate, Emmanuel Masa, who allegedly promised a lucrative opportunity to travel abroad via Asman Airlines. 

The offer, tied to a company called Fredlock Mine, reportedly involved flights to Suriname, near Brazil.

To lend the scheme an appearance of legitimacy, Bista alleged that meetings were held inside the Force Headquarters, where uniformed police officers reportedly assured him and his associates that the arrangement was genuine. 

He said the presence of officers at such a high-security location convinced him and his group to trust the deal.

Bista claimed money was extracted from him in stages over an extended period, covering purported costs for visas, tickets, boarding passes, fuel, permits, and various “clearance” fees. 

On one occasion, he said he transferred ₦90 million in a single day.

He further alleged that police vehicles were used to pick up members of his group from their hotels, with officers demanding millions of naira for their release, and that Emmanuel Masa himself later claimed to have been detained in connection with the matter.

Fake documents, including boarding passes and letters purportedly issued by government agencies, were allegedly produced to sustain the deception.

Bista also claimed that someone who identified himself as the Managing Director of Asman Airlines was aware of the scheme and personally received payments from it.

When he attempted to seek redress, he said he faced further obstructions. 

He alleged that officials at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) solicited bribes, that his case stalled for months without progress, and that he was himself detained for several days without food.

He claimed Masa has boasted of police and government connections that place him beyond the reach of the law.

Bista said he is currently unable to return to Nepal, as his family has faced threats and his property has been seized over debts linked to the alleged scam. 

His 83-year-old father, he said, is still waiting for his return home.

VDM has said he intends to pursue the matter further, including petitioning the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, to secure the arrest of those allegedly involved and recover the funds.