BDC Operator Defrauds Indian Businessman Of $737,000

A Bureau de change (BDC) operator identified as Abubakar Mannir has been accused of defrauding the Chief Executive Officer of Allkraft Technology and Industries Limited, Mr Manas Das,  of $737,015.00.

It was gathered that Das, a Nigeria-based Indian contacted the  Bureau de Change operator, who operated under Emirates Booth Company, to purchase the United States dollars (USD) under three agreements, totalling $900,000.

The General Manager of Allkraft Technology and Industries Limited, Abdulrahman Abubakar, in a statement, said that 100 per cent of the Naira equivalent $900,000 was transferred from Allkraft to Zenith Bank account of Emirates Booth in December 2023.

However, trouble started when Mannir was said to have paid Das only $162,985 through Emirates Booth but allegedly fled without paying the balance of $737,015.00.

Abubakar said, “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 travelled 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.

“Inspite 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,” he said via the statement.

Mannir’s mobile lines were not connecting when he was reached out to. His younger brother, Abubakar Imam, said that his brother has not contacted them yet as he has not been able to reach him.

“I don’t know his current location, so I can’t say exactly where he is,” he stated.

It was gathered that earlier this year, Mannir was released from prison over another fraud case with Zenith Bank.

The Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed that the command was aware of the matter, adding that investigation had commenced.