•Fleeing Abubakar Aliyu Mannir
A 36-year-old Bureau-de-change operator identified as Abubakar Aliyu Mannir, has allegedly defrauded the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Allkraft Technology and Industries Limited, Mr. Manas Das, of $737,015.00.
It was gathered that Das, a Nigerian-based Indian, contacted the Bureau de Change operator, who operated under Emirates Booth Company, to purchase the United States dollars under three agreements that totaled $900,000, reports Daily Independent.
General Manager of Allkraft Technology and Industries Limited, Abdulrahman Abubakar, told our correspondent that 100 percent of the Naira equivalent was transferred from the Allkraft Company Zenith Bank account to Emirates booth account number, in December 2023.
However, trouble started for the Indian, after Mannir was said to have paid him only $162,985 through Emirates Booth but allegedly fled without paying the balance of $737,015.00.
Abubakar explained that: “The contracts were supposed to be fulfilled in November 2023, but the Emirates Booth owned by Mr. Mannir cited a delay and finally agreed to make the transfers from January 15, 2024, to January 19, 2024. By that time, Mr. Manas Das had traveled to Abuja, from where the remittance was scheduled to be transferred.
Mr. Mannir was scheduled to meet with members of staff of both companies (Allkraft Technology and Industries Limited and Emirates Booth) on January 14, 2024, for a dinner meeting to discuss and ensure that payments were made the next day.
“The last call I received from Mr. Mannir was on January 14, 2024, at about 5pm, informing that members of both companies would meet at about 7pm. But the meeting never held.
“The next day, after contacting the Emirates Booth office, including its managers and assistants, it was suspected that something was wrong.
“Staffers of both companies travelled from Abuja as early as 5am to Kano, where it was confirmed that Mannir had disappeared. We had to report the case to the Police.
“In spite of regular follow-ups with the police from that day until date, Mannir could not be traced and the money is yet to be recovered.
“The police informed us that Mannir had fled to Niger. However, we also know that he is in contact with his family because there are recordings of his conversation with his mother.
“The victim has been pushed into deep financial trouble and he is now trying to borrow money to survive and pay salaries to the staff and labourers who used to work in the company. Most of them have stopped working because there is no money to pay their salaries.”
Attempts to reach Mannir failed as his mobile lines were not connecting. His younger brother, Abubakar Imam, when contacted, said: “We have not been able to reach him. I don’t know his current location, so I can’t say exactly where he is.
“Earlier this year, he was released from prison over another fraud case with Zenith Bank. My 50-year-old mother is already battling with sickness about this case because she is aware of the matter.”
When contacted the Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna on the matter, he confirmed that the command was aware of it, adding that investigation had commenced.
