TD Abuja, Nigeria — A shocking case of international fraud has emerged, involving a Nepalese businessman who claims he was defrauded of a staggering ₦1.6 billion in Nigeria.
The victim, identified as Vista Lakshmi Prasad Bista, alleges that the scam was orchestrated with the complicity of individuals operating inside the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters.
The heist was pulled off with the involvement of the Managing Director of Azman Airlines.
The Victim’s Journey
Bista, originally from Nepal but based in Malaysia, recounted that he was lured into Nigeria in 2023 by a Cameroonian associate, Emmanuel Massa, who promised lucrative business opportunities.
Having previously traded in palm oil and phone accessories across Asia and Africa, Bista believed Nigeria offered a gateway to expand his ventures.
According to Bista, Massa convinced him that Azman Airlines had partnered with a company called Flatlock Mine to facilitate international travel, particularly to Suriname, a South American country near Brazil.
Videos and documents purportedly showing Azman’s involvement were presented to him, which he said gave credibility to the scheme.
Meetings Inside Police Headquarters
The most disturbing aspect of the case, Bista insists, is that several meetings were held inside the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Phones were collected at the gate, and foreign nationals from Somalia, Sudan, and Cameroon were present.
He described seeing uniformed police officers in attendance.
“The police officer said this is a good company. Anything business you can go ahead.
“Inside the Force Headquarters, they told us it was safe to do business with them,” Bista recalled.
This endorsement by police officers, he said, erased any doubts he had about the legitimacy of the transactions.
Payments and Escalating Demands
The scam unfolded in stages. Bista initially paid $20,000, with receipts issued.
Over time, he and his associates made repeated payments, sometimes under pressure that flights were scheduled “next week.”
When flights failed to materialize, excuses such as “not enough passengers” or “landing permit delays” were given.
At one point, Bista said police officers detained some of his associates at hotels, demanding payments for their release.
He claimed to have paid ₦4 million to secure their freedom.
The fraud escalated further when Bista was asked to raise funds for supposed landing permits in Nicaragua and visas for 350 people in Dubai.
He said he paid $157,000 for Nigerian visas alone, funneled through immigration contacts.
Azman Airlines’ Alleged Role
Bista’s testimony implicates Azman Airlines directly.
He claims to have met the airline’s Managing Director, identified as Faisal, after paying intermediaries to arrange the meeting.
During the encounter, Faisal allegedly admitted receiving payments from Massa, including $400,000 previously and $25,000 more recently.
“The MD told me, if you have money, just bring it to me, I can make you fly,” Bista said. “He asked me for $150,000 directly.”
This revelation shocked observers, as Azman Airlines is known to operate domestic routes within Nigeria, not international flights.
The use of Azman’s name and documents, coupled with alleged direct payments to its MD, raises serious questions about complicity.
The Scale of the Fraud
Over months, Bista claims he was manipulated into paying vast sums, often in installments, under the promise of flights, visas, and business opportunities.
He estimates total losses at ₦1.6 billion, involving funds raised from associates in Nepal, Dubai, and other countries.
The fraud was not limited to financial losses. Bista said the ordeal left him in fear of arrest, forcing him to flee Abuja for Lagos at one point.
He described living under constant intimidation, with threats that police would detain him if he appeared at headquarters.
VeryDarkMan’s Intervention
Nigerian activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), who has built a reputation exposing corruption and scams, brought the case to public attention.
In his words:
“A foreigner from Nepal came to me claiming he was scammed of ₦1.6 billion.
“While the amount was shocking, what was even more shocking was where the fraud took place.
“According to him, he believed the business was legitimate because the meetings were held inside a conference room at the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters.”
VDM emphasized that the victim’s trust stemmed from seeing police officers in uniform endorsing the transactions.
Implications for Nigerian Institutions
This case raises grave concerns about corruption within Nigeria’s security agencies and aviation sector.
If proven true, it suggests that fraudsters are exploiting official premises and the credibility of national institutions to defraud foreigners.
The allegations against Azman Airlines’ MD, Faisal, are particularly damaging.
If substantiated, they could implicate the airline in international fraud, tarnishing Nigeria’s aviation reputation.
Calls for Investigation
The scale and audacity of the alleged fraud demand urgent investigation.
Analysts argue that the case highlights systemic corruption and the vulnerability of foreigners seeking business opportunities in Nigeria.
Legal experts note that the involvement of police officers, if confirmed, could constitute abuse of office and criminal conspiracy.
Aviation regulators may also need to scrutinize Azman Airlines’ operations and management.
For Bista, the ordeal has been devastating.
He claims to have lost not only money but also credibility among his associates in Nepal and Dubai.
His story underscores the dangers of unchecked fraud and the need for accountability within Nigeria’s institutions.
As VDM put it:
“This is not just about one man losing money. It is about the integrity of our police force and the reputation of our country.
“If foreigners cannot trust our institutions, then Nigeria’s image is at stake.”
The case of Vista Lakshmi Prasad Bista remains a chilling reminder of how fraudsters can weaponize trust in official institutions to perpetrate crimes of staggering magnitude.
