Ayodimeji Falade
Notorious gangs, armed robbers, drug lords and major kidnappers in Nigeria have wide range of criminal network that fetch them returns in millions or billions of Naira. But they also have legitimate businesses that help them clean these monies and conceal their criminal enterprise. This way they can live extravagantly and acquire luxury properties.
IkejaBird takes a look at CEOs, businessmen, and government officials that own criminal networks or are being investigated for criminal activities.
1. Ahlaji Ademola Kazeem Aka Abdullah Kazeem Muhammed | Criminal Drug Lord – Hotel CEO
The Chief Executive Officer and Owner of Adekaz Hotels, Lagos Island, tops the list of daylight businessmen who have been investigated for their involvement in criminal businesses.
He was declared wanted on Monday, 1, November 2022 as an alleged drug dealer operating various drug networks in Nigeria and many parts of the world.
Although this socialite is seen as a hardworking businessman, he is believed to be involved in drug trafficking, money laundering among other crimes.
His houses, cash, and hotel have been seized during this investigation.
2. Evans | Notorious kidnapper – Automobile dealer
The Nnewi, Anambra born man was arrested in his house for kidnapping and armed robberies.
He is a notable businessman on the outside. He owns a big warehouse and imports and sell cars, spare parts as his legitimate business to hide his criminal activities.
He had ventured into the drugs business but became an armed robber in 2013 before he went into kidnapping until the time of his arrest in June 2017.
3. John Lyon | Notorious Kidnapper -Interior designer
The former Sterling bank staff is also part of criminals who use legitimate business as cover.
He was able to start his interior decoration business using the proceeds he got as capital. He uses this as cover for his kidnapping activities.
His former job at the banking sector enabled him to get information on rich clients before kidnapping them.
4. Ramon Abbas “Hushpuppi” | Fraudster – Real estate investor
Until his arrest, the popular internet scammer and fraudster paraded himself as a high-profile businessman, dealing in real estate and other foreign businesses. Meanwhile, he was running a criminal network scamming people, companies, and government millions of dollars. His profile as a businessman helped him avoid suspicion until his arrest in Dubai in June 2020.
5. Abba Kyari | Criminal Enabler – Police Chief
The famous and disgraced policeman made the list after long years as a reputable police officer. He was made commander of the IGP-IRT cop in Nigeria. But secretly helped criminals like Hushpuppi conceal and get rivals behind bars.
He was suspended of all police activities on August 1, 2021, over allegations of fraud enabling activities. Involvement in cocaine deals led to his arrest in 2022.
Many high-profile individuals that run dirty businesses in the dark are ravaging the country while they earn the praises of Nigerians for being hardworking or generous until the law catches up to them.
