About three weeks ago, he called me that some folks came from Moor Plantation in Ibadan to market improved seeds for them. I ask to see the seeds and I was even interested because I wanted to start investing in cash crops. Among the seeds he he brought to me was Apple. Apple? In Southern Nigeria? Maybe they know something I don't know. When it comes to Agriculture, I know a lot! Especially tropical plants. I grew up farming. We made our own Gari, Cassava flour, palm oil, locust beans and grow our own yams. The only thing we ate that we did not grow were rice and beans. The seeds include oil palm, plantain, cocoa and all sorts. I looked at the handout he brought as my copy and the price list. I recall making the observation that oil palm seeds are kernels but generally I did not delve deeper. Since they were going to have a seminar for buyers I can ask the questions later. I was particularly interested in their clearing rates. I spent millions clearing my farms, I couldn't imagine someone offering such ridiculous rates.
Unknown to me, my friend had given them a cheque for N50,000 for the miserable seeds they gave him about 10-20 for each plant. On that singular occasion, the fraudsters came into the Lagos state secretariat and got so many ensnared. A week later, my friend and a few interested parties who paid between N50,000-100,000 went to Moor plantation to look for Prince and Dr. Adejugbe, In a bid to get more seeds and get acquainted with the process. Right at the gate the paper they held was identified as fake. There was a Dr. Adejuyigbe not Adejugbe. There was no prince. Of course the Dr. Adejuyigbe has no knowledge of such nonsense. Moor Plantation does not even sell seeds!
From that visit to the LAGOS state secretariat, my investigation showed they made over N2million from unsuspecting civil servants who wanted to invest in agriculture. When they realized they have been scammed, a few of them got together with a plan to catch the scammers. But, the fraudsters are skilled in the trade. Below is the response of the lead scam artist unedited:
"Am in lagos & not a prince, and not a staff of Moor plantation. I am d same prince and Dr.Adejugbe on phone with d numbers. So dont chase shadows and trouble urself.It is аn аgric frаud,аnd u kеeр аsking 4 morе.(Eja leja nje e sanra) Thanks so much. Lastly d cheques for Agboola olumide is a lost & found National ID card that resembles 4 cashing at any bank.Not traceable. Pls sir dont waste ur resources & time by coming 2 moor plantation, 4 fake prince adewale, oradejugbe. However Ecobank 50,000 account was late & well calculated just 2 pity and refund a victim part money rather giving her by hand 2 avoid trouble. For not as rich as u. U're God sent! Thanks and bye, may God continue 2 bless. Off 2 cotonou tomorrow.No access 2 sims again and no need 4 oilpalm money again. BYE...Pass d message 2 others, bcos am off 2 cotonou 2morrow morning. I have taken 2 my heels with dat yellow guy on d first day at ur office. Once аgаin thаnks so much & mаy God double d expenses."
Will you blame the victims? Wouldn't. The only recurring decimal is to look at every proposal very closely. If it is too good to be true, it probably is. Scam hurts everyone and hurts legitimate business more. Can anyone stroll into these offices to market anything after this? Not likely! It is a shame what some people do!
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