He was charged with two counts of conspiracy and obtaining money with the intention of defrauding Remmy Hendrick Iniqi Cima of Germany of $1,698,380 in June 2003. He was falsely accused of representing the money as payments that were supposed to be made to government officials in exchange for $18 million for a contract. He was arraigned separately on these counts. He was detained in May 2003 and charged with a crime alongside a Chief Olafemi Ayeni (born in Ilesha, Osun State; 43 years old in October 2003), who claimed to be the owner of a multinational corporation named Worldwide that was in control of US dollars.
Attia allegedly gave Ade Bendel and Ayeni money to purchase the alleged chemicals when they arrived at his office, only to discover later that there were none and that he had been duped. Ade Bendel and Ayeni claimed they needed the money to buy chemicals to clean the security covers from the notes in the box. While in court, the Egyptian general also showered the EFCC and the court with plaudits for a job well done. Ade Bendel initially entered a not guilty plea, but he then changed it to a guilty plea and promised to reimburse the EFCC for the money.
In the end, he was housed in a private cell at Block 2 of the Kirikiri Maximum Prison to serve out his sentence. Ade Bendel maintained constant access to a copy of the Bible while he was incarcerated, claiming to have been visited by a spirit from above and to be a “born-again” Christian. All I can hope for is that the stories of people who were duped will surface once more. Additionally, he was alleged to have operated a tiny “church” inside the jail where he shared the gospel with other prisoners and even turned unexpectedly charitable by feeding them. It is important to note, however, that in 2002, before to his actual arrest, he allegedly told his pals that he was permanently leaving the company because the Holy Spirit had “arrested” him following a church service.
After being freed, Ade Bendel organized a number of religious crusades including Nigerian musicians like Dbanj, where he preached in March 2008 to people who were open to hearing his particular style of gospel. On March 24, 2008, at Eleko Beach in Lagos, he held his first major crusade. He told the story of how he “met” God while incarcerated and spoke about other commonplace things like old people dying away. Some people think that Dbanj has truly turned into a better person and will stand up for the recently appointed angel. Dbanj was rumored to have sobbed during Ade Bendel’s press conference when he recounted what Nigerians call “testimonies.” Some people also said that he should be given another chance at life, but I’m pretty sure that doesn’t include the people who lost their lives—or worse—to his exploits. These people, sadly, will never get another chance. And all right, I’ll take this one in. He announced in March 2008 that the old things had passed away and that he was now a preacher. He declared that bringing more individuals to the Kingdom was the main goal of his life at the moment.
In any case, how about giving back a portion of the victims’ money, or just that one? he announced the news and gave his evidence at a press conference at Terra Kulture. It was said that several in attendance, including D’banj, a Nigerian musician, were brought to tears. “I am prepared to support his new cause wholeheartedly,” he declared. One day while inside, I got to know two young people who were in their 18s and 20s.I was greeted as Baba Ade Bendel. I was hailed as their hero. They informed me they were into 419 (swindling people of their hard-earned money) when I questioned what got them into jail. They said that they hoped to resemble me very soon. That was the day I started crying. How can I ruin lives and still be a hero? A hero delivering those you con people out of their money to an early grave. I promised God that I would serve him for the rest of my life if given the chance. Ade Bendel and friends’ “Turning Point” news conference was the title of the event.
He possesses several intriguing qualities. When it came to spending money, Ade Bendel was the true rainmaker for people who were close to him because of his unbridled spending habits. He visited Car Link, a renowned car dealership on Aromire Avenue in Ikeja, Lagos State, in 1998 in order to purchase a lovely vehicle for himself. An old friend of his who was on a commuter bus passed by and saw Ade Bendel as he was ready to make his purchase. He quickly got off the bus to greet his now-wealthy friend, whom he had not seen in a long time. After exchanging pleasantries, the two friends—who had previously lived in poverty together—did the unthinkable: Ade Bendel gifted his friend a car—worth an estimated N3 million naira. He then decided to buy a Mercedes Benz for himself after purchasing it for his pal. He paid N11 million for the German baby he recently purchased.
Ade Bendel bribed anyone who could be bought off in order to avoid prosecution and to keep himself out of trouble with the law. History also says that certain Oga police at the time took N15 million from Ade Bendel in order to guarantee that his file would remain missing indefinitely… also amassed a staggering N350 million from Emmanuel Nwude and N20 million from Fred Ajudua, two more infamous scammers in their own right, in order to shield them from the observant eyes of the authorities. The names will not be mentioned here, lol.
It was reported that during the height of his legal issues, he had become accustomed to being detained, released, and then arrested again, to the point where he was a frequent visitor to different police stations. Every month, he was said to visit the police stations more often than the restroom.
Ade Bendel was listed as wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in July 2003. Why? The grandmaster was charged by the EFCC with deceiving himself into believing he was part of a criminal plot and with taking money from a Nigerian while Ade Bendel was still a prisoner at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Lagos, totaling $7,855,500 and an additional N3 million naira.
Ade Bendel adores automobiles. The best Rolls Royce, Jaguars, Lexus jeeps, Lincoln Navigators, Cherokee jeeps, Mercedes Benz and Nissan Pathfinders were in his garage as of 2000. Additionally, he always traveled through the town in a convoy of at least seven vehicles. He was especially smitten with a 1999 Jaguar that was metallic gray. And get ready for this: guys who were trained for combat from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), a Lagos State Government anti-crime organization, comprised his personal security. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if he continues to receive this level of VIP protection.
He enjoyed wild and exuberant parties. His extravagant gatherings, which featured gorgeous women, musicians who sang praises, and copious amounts of alcohol, were centered on the Ikeja Government Reserved Area (GRA). He didn’t act as though heaven was his personal paradise, he experienced it in Lagos, right here on Earth. Maurice Ibekwe, a former member of the Federal House of Representatives who passed while in the EFCC’s custody while being investigated for fraud, was among his pals. There are many well-known, prominent guys from the 1990s and early 2000s who were the big boys in Lagos, we have individuals such as Toyin Igbira, one of Nigeria’s most infamous drug baronesses, Mr. Christian Van Dressien, the former Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Godwin Anabor, the editor of the enormously popular Hints magazine, Dare Babs, Tunde Adaba, and Shina One.
Other associates that made waves in Lagos high society included Osare Onaiwu, who served as his media adviser and consultant, Otunba Abimbola Davies, Tunde Atobatele, owner of Judanic Autos on Allen Avenue in Ikeja, Abayomi Fetusi, the man behind Talkland Nigeria Limited, Kenny Duyile, the publisher of Celebrity Mirror, and many more. Ade Bendel and Otunba Abimbola Davies parted ways subsequently due to a disagreement over funds pertaining to Evening Express, a tabloid that Bendel was financially supporting. Let’s now discuss that tabloid of his.
The Evening Express, a propaganda journal owned by Ade Bendel, was introduced in Lagos State in 1999 with great excitement. Journalists and writers from the other more reputable media organizations were enticed with fancy cars and generous wage packages. His friend Otunba Abimbola Davies, who belongs to Senator Arthur Nzeribe’s Association for Better Nigeria (ABN), was tasked with finding potential sources of income for the journalists as well as creating an advertising plan that would boost their media company. But things would eventually deteriorate between the two. Ade Bendel was furious because he thought Davies was taking advantage of him financially. After he gave Davies a hard blow to the face, the other man quit the media industry. And it didn’t take long, Ade Bendel deceived his staff members.
Workers said that Ade Bendel lived well while they were working without pay and that their salaries were unpaid. His media empire fell apart even before it could have taken off because they abandoned their efforts when they could no longer deliver on the hollow promises. The workers urged him in vain since they had not received their salaries for three months. The top mugu-magamachine in Nigeria, Oga Ade Bendel, had outwitted them.
In the brief time of his publication, Ade Bendel would instruct them to publish negative articles against affluent and retired Nigerian Army generals. They will then get in touch with him to remove the detrimental stories in his capacity as publisher. They assert that by doing this, Ade Bendel would be able to recognize people who were easy prey for con artists. He also forbade anyone on his media staff—aside from his younger brother—from ever touching his fax machine. His international magas (clients) and business companions, if we may use that term, stayed in the United States of America, and the fax machine served as their channel for messages to and from that nation. It was reported that he made an investment in the construction of a three-star hotel in Ogun State, most likely the Ace Hotel. He is also thought to have purchased a second home in Agbara, Ogun State.
Eedris Abdulkarim, the jagajaga singer and a longtime opponent of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, also sang a few lyrics that mentioned Ade the Bendelite.
Ade Bendel erected a prison chapel in Kirikiri.Ade Bendel announced to reporters during a magazine launch interview in May 2002 that he was permanently leaving the industry and would spend the rest of his life serving the Almighty. Interestingly, his name was also brought up in the December 2013 case of the $8.395 million (more than N1.2 billion) fraud against Major-General Ishaya Bamaiyi, the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of Nigeria. Really, I had no idea that the Nigerian military was so profitable or how in the world an African general managed to obtain what Admiral Mike Mullen could only imagine. Haha. The case’s most intriguing aspect concerned the allegations that Ajudua, Bendel, and other individuals had robbed Bamaiyi of the specified amount when they were all housed at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons. It was also claimed that the money in question was utilized to bribe a judge who was hearing Bamaiyi’s case.
As a historian and writer, I sometimes feel like giving up on this country, but I won’t, and neither should you.
Imagine what occurs behind the doors of the biggest prison in Nigeria—that is, if we do not regard Nigeria as a jail at all. I really hope that everyone had fun traveling through Ade BENDEL’s journey; I know I did. I will never know why Nigerian filmmaker don’t produce films of this caliber. This is a multimillion-naira blockbuster for you. I will eventually accomplish my aim if no one approaches the idea of making this novel into a movie… lol.
