Many of us have often argued that when it becomes imperative
to set a prototypical nation to direct our exploration for a better nation, it
is wise to set a modest target that is achievable and continue from there at
the right time rather than starting with a towering goal that will not be
attainable. By that, we feel that nations of the BRICS are just ideal enough as
models. People are, however, more satisfied jumping over a lot of nations,
in-between, to land in the United States of America (USA) – in their minds,
they have built a view that the US is the sole land of impeccability.
In Nigeria, it is sad to note that our mountains of woes,
rather than decline, are some what on the increase everyday. While we remain
upbeat for a president that will swoop on corruption, for instance, the
expected messiah comes around to grant amnesty to the few cases of successful
prosecution of corruption. While we remain optimistic for a leader that will
come around to banish mediocrity out of the perimeters of our nation, he comes
around to base his appointments purely on the criteria of who will help him to
win the next election.
One problem for which Nigerians have waited for a President
to heal is the problem of 4-1-9 (scam). It is an issue that has eroded the
reputation of the country remarkably that folks around the world perceive every
Nigerian squarely through the prism of deception.
Recent experiences of mine have demonstrated that the issue
of organized swindling is not unique to Nigeria however. Criminals are
everywhere around the world, just that the intensity of crimes varies according
to the nature of determinants in different locations. I have come to realize
that Mr. Impeccable is not excluded, that he is not all round, after all.
Sometimes in September 2012, Adams, my brother, told me
about an investment opportunity online and in the US. It goes by one of those
flashy names like Earth and Heaven Millionaires, 1 Million% Royalty,
Just-Been-Quenched, etc. Adams as my referee was to be rewarded with a certain
percentage of any investment I make. It was the reason he worked hard to
encourage me to join. I too will be paid that referral commission (as it is
called in that world of cash illusion) for any individual I introduce to the
millionaire makers.
I had just finished paying an old bank loan and was, hence,
eligible for a new loan. The new loan I intended to use in roofing my house
that I have started building with the previous loan. There was a strong
temptation to invest that money; the commission they gave will double my
investment in just a month. I will withdraw the capital and my dividend becomes
the new capital -too good to be true but very tempting. When the loan was
finally issued, I went ahead to use the money for the initial goal it was meant
to accomplish so that the online investment in far-away lands became the
opportunity cost; something in me kicked against the use of that money in an
investment with the character of fantasia.
I however went ahead to take another loan of N100, 000.00
($630) from the thrift in my workplace. I went through a complex chain of
processes and finally invested the money. That was after agreeing to the
company’s disclaimer that made it impossible for me to find any illegal redress
in the event of any “unforeseen” outcome.
A few days before my investment was due to mature, I logged
in to the company’s website but was re-directed to a formerly unknown website.
The owner of the company had “retired” and had subsequently sold the company.
At that point, the dilemma was either to agree to the terms and conditions of
the new company or forfeit your investment. The terms and conditions were,
perhaps, the only thing that has not changed from what the old company offered.
To cut a long story short, I never withdrew a nickel from my investment but had
to pay my loan issuer.
While I was waiting for my investment to mature, I was
introduced to another company also in the US that offered better a percentage
of your investment as commission. I sold my electric power generator and
invested the money in this generous company; electric power supply had become
fairly stable along my street and the power generator was dormant. The
investment turned out to be the worst. The “business relationship” was just one
directional in every respect as they had no phone lines with which to be
contacted and never responded to any emails until all investors got tired and
gave up. We invested in the bogus companies because there were people who were
already reaping from their investments made as soon as the companies became
known.
In December 2012, I was awakened by an annoying phone call
in the middle of the night. The voice from the other end of the line introduced
himself as the Head Consultant of a book marketing company in the US. His
company had seen my book on Amazon. He was calling to propose the marketing of
the book. I accepted. They waited for three months to allow me raised the money
with which I paid an initial installment to enable the book marketing, by email
campaign, to commence. This was not without regular calls to ensure I was
working to fulfill my pledge of buying their “service”. Sadly, my email
campaign couldn’t commence as previously agreed. Since I was certain that was the agreement,
my will to pay what was left was severely damaged.
Recently, I discovered with shock, a forum campaigning
against that very company for ripping authors around the world. I then sent an email to them with a link to
that forum and requested an explanation. It turned out to be the first time
they have refused to respond to my mail.
Except when I sent my email during the weekends, my mails were always
responded to within twenty-four hours. It is gone two weeks now.
In Nigeria, 4-1-9 thrived as a result of a chronic legal compassion,
nourished by generations of laid-back authorities or perhaps because those who
live in a glass house should not throw stones. During the era of Nuhu Ribadu as
the boss of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), he meant
business and scammers left the country to operate from neighboring lands. Since
Ribadu also caused nightmares to authorities, some members of which had been
arrested and put in the dock, the subsequent administration of late Umar
Yar’adua ensured that Ribadu did not continue as EFCC boss. Now “yahoo-yahoo”
boys have returned to Nigeria, operating alongside their counterparts in the
Presidency, Senate, House of Reps, Ministries and agencies in all tiers of
government and also the private domain.
Across the Atlantic however, the law is remarkably alert and
without sympathy. It is the reason some individuals have developed
sophisticated legal armors. Those that have failed to develop these complicated
ways of evading the laws are, without doubt, the ones in prisons and
penitentiaries across America.
In 2012, Rod Blagojevich, the Governor of the American State
of Illinois was jailed for fourteen years over issues bordering on financial
crimes. I learnt two things from this: firstly, that despite the tough laws,
the manic-desire to make money by hook or by crook also dwells in the US.
Secondly, I have also learnt that the law, in the US, is over and above
everyone; it could not even spare a serving governor.
With my credit card and from the heart of Africa, I have
bought many things successfully from the US. The few cases of gall and wormwood
have however taught me that America is not as flawless as many of us have often
thought and I will have to be cautious with some Americans.
The online investment companies may have found safe
indentations where the laws cannot venture into but while they hide in those
recesses however, they are also working to diminish the attractive image of the
US in addition to eroding the absolute trust with which the world has held
America.
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