American Seeks to Recover Billions Lost to Fraudsters

An American, Montia Rice, has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to relist a suit in which he obtained judgment awarding him N6.6billion, which he claimed he lost to alleged fraudsters over a phantom project.

The plaintiff had claimed the sum from an alleged fraudster, Fred Ajudua, and six others.
However, before the judgment delivered by Justice Dan Abutu on July 28, 2000 could be enforced, the lawyer representing him in Nigeria, Anthony Okocha, died.
Rice also fled the country after his life was threatened.

Through a new attorney, Ayodele Akindele, Rice is praying the court to relist the suit into the general cause list to enable him enforce the judgment and recover his money.
He is also praying for leave to apply for the issuance of writ of execution of the judgment delivered by Justice Abutu.

The judge had entered judgment in favour of Rice after the defendants, including Ajudua, Jude Okwudili, one Dr Annuni, Sam Opara, Mamo Feda and Mr. Wags Digiteme, failed to respond to the suit.
Justice Abutu entered judgment for the plaintiff against the defendants jointly and severally in the sum of $6,456,848.61 (about N1,969,331,933.39) as well as “interlocutory judgment” in the sum of $15,364,380 (about N4,686,119,498.58).

Rice, who runs a construction company, claimed he was allegedly approached by the defendants to execute a project in Nigeria.

After being convinced to finance the project, Rice said he transferred the funds from his Barclays Bank UK account to the defendants through Standard Trust Bank which was acquired by UBA.
Upon discovering he had been duped, he sued the defendants, who did not enter appearance to defend the suit.

In a supporting affidavit, Akindele said no further steps were taken since the judgment, adding that following the death of Rice’ former attorney, “there was has been lack of communication.”
The deponent added: “The honourable court only set aside the judgment delivered against the first defendant while both final and interlocutory judgments delivered against the second to seventh defendants are still subsisting.”

When the case came up before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola, Akindele, represented by Tijani Ishola, told the court about the pending application.
The judge asked the lawyer why they were coming for the judgment’s enforcement 17 years after it was delivered.

The lawyer said Rice, an American citizen, had unsuccessfully sought to enforce the judgment but ran for his life after he was threatened, adding that his lawyer also died in “mysteriously” afterwards.
The plaintiff is also praying for an extension of time within which to apply to take further steps in compliance with the judgment, and an order allowing Rice to take the steps towards recovering the sum.
Justice Olatoregun-Ishola adjourned until March 8 for hearing.