A Nepalese businessman, Bista, has alleged that he was defrauded of approximately ₦1.6 billion in an elaborate scheme that he claims involved meetings held inside the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters in Abuja and the use of forged official documents.
Speaking in an interview with social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, Bista said he travelled to Nigeria in 2023 after being introduced to what he believed was a legitimate international travel and business opportunity.
According to him, a Cameroonian acquaintance identified as Emmanuel Masa invited him to participate in a venture involving Asman Airlines through a company known as Fredlock Mine. The proposed arrangement allegedly involved travel to Suriname, a South American country.
Bista claimed the scheme appeared credible because several meetings were allegedly held at the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters, where uniformed police officers reportedly assured him and others that the transaction was genuine and safe.
Trusting those assurances, he said he and his associates made multiple payments covering visa processing, flight tickets, boarding passes, fuel charges, permits and various clearance fees. He alleged that on one occasion alone, he transferred ₦90 million.
He further alleged that some of his associates were picked up from their hotels by individuals using police vehicles and were only released after large sums of money were paid. According to him, forged documents, including boarding passes and purported government correspondence, were also used to convince victims that the process was legitimate.
Bista also alleged that the Managing Director of Asman Airlines was aware of the operation and received payments, although no official response has been issued by the airline regarding the claim.
The businessman said his efforts to seek justice have been unsuccessful. He alleged that officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) demanded bribes during the investigation, while he was detained for several days without food after reporting the matter. These allegations have not been independently verified, and neither the EFCC nor the Nigeria Police Force has publicly responded to them.
According to Bista, the financial loss has left him unable to return to Nepal, where he claims his family has received threats and his property has been seized over debts incurred from the alleged scam. He also said his 83-year-old father has been waiting for his return.
VeryDarkMan said he has taken up the matter and pledged to petition the Inspector-General of Police, urging authorities to investigate the allegations, arrest those responsible if found culpable, and recover the missing funds.
The allegations remain unproven, and the individuals and organisations mentioned have not publicly responded to the claims at the time of reporting.
