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| Amira Abdallahi |
How are you involved in this crime?
It wasn’t my intention to get involved but, I didn’t know.
Are you educated?
Yes, I studied overseas. I studied in Cyprus. I studied Hotel Management.
You came back to Nigeria. Did you get a job?
No, I came back to Nigeria with the father of my kids whom I’m divorced from right now.
How many kids do you have?
I’m a single mother of five. Where is your husband now? I don’t know. We went our separate ways after the divorce.
How did you come in contact with this gang? Are you dating any of them?
No, I’m not dating anyone of them! I do interior designing. I got a contract to decorate one of Senator Nwobodo’s hotels. That was how I got to know him.
How did you get involved in the crime?
He said he needed to buy some dollars from some bureau de change operators. He said that he needed me to talk with them. That was how I got involved.
Was it your role to call the victims?
Something like that. I thought it was his money he wanted to exchange. I thought he was a senator. I used to see mobile policemen around him. I thought he was a respected man. When I realised the truth, it was too late for me to step back. I was already involved.
What was your part in the gang?
My job was just to talk to the bureau de change operators on phone that I wanted to buy some dollars.
What happened next after that?
I only talk to them. That’s all!
At what point did you realise you were working with fraudsters?
That was actually a few months ago.
How many years have you been with them before you realised?
It’s not up to a year now. That was towards the third quarter of last year. I just had my last baby and that was six months ago.
Who’s the father of the baby?
My ex-husband! I had all my kids for my ex-husband.
What made you to know? Did you see a gun with them?
No! I just saw the EFCC uniforms. That’s all!
How did you know you were with criminals?
It was actually when they took the money from the bureau de change operator. They took the dollars, but didn’t give the operator naira.
How much was your share the first time?
It’s whatever they gave me, I took. The first time was about $5000.
For the job you did?
Yes.
How many times were you involved?
I was involved about six times.
Do you receive $5000 after every operation?
Yes! Something like that; but I cannot really remember.
Did you come to Lagos to make such calls?
Yes. I came to Lagos.
When you realised they were criminals, what was your reaction? Did you confront senator?
I couldn’t do that. Why couldn’t you do that? It was just the situation on ground.
Was it that you needed more money?
No. I just take care of my children. That was what I did with my money. You knew what you were getting into!
Nobody tricked you.
She keeps mute
Why didn’t you report to police?
She keeps mute
What led you into this?
I said it earlier.
Were you not making money in interior decoration?
Sometimes I do, but sometimes I don’t. There were times I wouldn’t work for like three to six months.
Senator told me he slept with you. Is it true?
No! I did not sleep with any of them. Never! Ever! He’s a married man. I don’t engage myself in such!
Why didn’t you walk away after you made your first millions?
No one is above mistake. I hope I’ll have a second chance to do something positive. I’ve realised my mistake.
So you made the mistake six times? Sure. You’re a half-caste?
Yes, but I was born in Nigeria. I work here.
Your parents are from where?
My mum is from Edo State and my dad from Lebanon
You grew up in Benin?
No, I grew up in Lagos. Senator explained everything and you agreed.
Didn’t you?
She keeps mute
Was the money the attraction?
That’s it!
How much did you make in all?
If I convert it to naira, it should be about N10 million.
What have you achieved with the money?
Nothing really.
You bought a jeep?
Yes, I bought a jeep, a Toyota.
What about your kids?
My kids? I sent them to school. You changed their schools to better ones? Yes! But it’s just a normal school.
You invested the money?
I invested the money on my kids and I bought a car.
If EFCC operatives start tracing your account, how much would they find?
My account has been drained! I don’t have any money in my account.
Are you serious? N10m just gone? What happened?
I handed everything over, even my car, to SARS.
When you saw senator and his men in EFFC uniforms, did you try to talk them out of it?
No. I didn’t.
Have you been arrested before?
No.
What is your advice to people who want to go into crime?
Well, they should live a clean life and try and do positive stuff.
If police allow you to go, won’t you go back to crime?
No, I’ll not.
If you’re sentenced to jail, who do you really think would take care of your kids?
I’ve not really thought of that. I mean about going to jail. I will get my relatives to come and take care of them. The oldest of my kid is 13.
Do your relatives know you’re into crime?
No!
Didn’t they ask how you were making your millions?
No. I had something I was doing.
You used interior decoration to cover up your criminal life?
I worked sometimes. I also did supplies.
Would you say financial frustration pushed you into this?
I had a big responsibility to carry. I needed money to carry on and for a long time now, I’d been catering for my kids alone. I was paying for my accommodation, school fees and the feeding of my kids. It was because of these responsibilities that I left my kids’ father. He refused to work.
Are you saying you did all this for your kids?
Yes! I love my kids. I did all this for them. I would do anything for my kids!
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