Culled from Vanguard
35-year-old Ali Sani, a bureau de change operator in Apapa area of Lagos, least envisaged the tragedy that loomed ahead, penultimate Monday, as he set for his office. Like every other bureau de change operator, Ali called on passers-by to patronise him, in his hard currency changing business.
Later that day, a telephone call, which signaled the beginning of the end of Ali, came in with the caller requesting for fifty thousand dollars. The call, according to his colleagues, came as an answered prayer for the Kano State born operator who, reportedly, rallied round to make up the amount. But, unknown to him, the caller had a sinister motive.
This was confirmed as report was received later by Ali’s colleagues that he was lying in a pool of his own blood inside a hotel on Marine Road, Apapa. Sadly, as you read this piece, the remains of the bureau de change operator, who hailed from Rimi town in Sumalia local government area of Kano State, are lying six feet beneath the earth.
How he met his death
The caller, a 25-year-old Lebanese, identified as Bilal, as gathered, invited Ali to the hotel. Immediately he stepped inside the hotel room , the Lebanese allegedly requested for the dollars which the deceased gave to him. But instead of giving the bureau de change operator the naira equivalent, four men were said to have emerged from the toilet.
Before he could fathom what was wrong, one of the men landed a stick on his head, causing him to fall.
In that state, the kingpin, Bilal, reportedly brought out a knife from his pocket and stabbed Ali in the neck, head, eyes and shoulder. Apprehension set in after Bilal rushed out of the hotel room with blood stained shirt, attempting to leave the hotel. But he was prevented by security guards. A mild drama unfolded as the Lebanese reportedly brought out a knife threatening to stab whoever tried to block his way.
But for the timely arrival of policemen from Apapa Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Mr Mohammed Mu’azu, the Lebanese would have made good his threat or escaped. He was arrested alongside two Nigerians simply identified as Segun and Benjamin.
During investigation, Bilal told policemen that his other two partners in crime had escaped. It was discovered that the fleeing suspects, both Lebanese , are father and son. A friend to the deceased bureau de change operator, one Muhammed Lawal, revealed to Sunday Vanguard that he disecretly followed Ali to the hotel that fateful day.
He narrated, “ When the Lebanese informed him that he would send his driver to come and pick him to the hotel where he lodged, he told me to follow him secretly behind. They drove in a Toyota Camry car. When they arrived the hotel, I hid outside.
“I waited for my friend to come outside but he did not and that made me suspicious. I dialed his number but there was no response. Not long thereafter, I saw one white man with blood stain all over his body. He wanted to escape but the security guards started shouting for help. The shouts alerted other people in the hotel. And that was what made me call our chairman and my other colleagues that they should help call the police.
“Then, I approached the hotel gate and started hauling stones at the white man and shouting at the same time. In the process, I managed to grab him. When we followed him to the room he lodged in, I saw my friend in a pool of his own blood . And when the policemen conducted a search of the hotel room, they found two other persons.”
The chairman of the bureau-de-change operators association, Mallam Garba Kano, who also spoke with Sunday Vanguard, revealed that Ali was rushed to three hospitals where he was rejected. According to him, “ when I got wind of the report, I alerted the DPO Apapa who immediately rushed there with his men. But for him, the suspects would have escaped. We first rushed Ali to an hospital where he was rejected.
“We later took him to Apapa health centre where again he was rejected. We took him to one other hospital where the same thing happened. By then Ali was no longer talking. He was in coma. We then rushed him to Lagoon Hospital where he was accepted and we were asked to pay N2.5 million as deposit. But we were able to deposit N750,000 before treatment commenced. Unfortunately he died hours later.”
It was not as if Ali went to meet the Lebanese just like that. His telephone number was given to the Lebanese by someone the deceased bureau de change knew very well at a supermarket. Garba lamented that members of his association had been under incessant attacks from criminals who hide under different guise.
In the past, he said gun wielding men would storm the area, shooting his members and making away with their monies in naira and foreign currencies. Sometimes, according to him, robbers would pose as bank customers, asking his members to meet them at the bank. But on reaching the bank, the operator would be attacked and dispossessed of his money. Some of his members, he said, ended up losing their lives . So far, he said four of his members had lost their lives.
Where is the money?
There is, however, a twist in the whole matter as the fifty thousand dollars Ali reportedly took to the hotel was, at press time, yet to be recovered. Out of the amount, only ten thousand dollars was recovered.
Sunday Vanguard gathered that when the prime suspect was arrested, a briefcase in which the hard currency was recovered was taken from him and handed over to a police man. It could, however, not be ascertained if the briefcase contained the whole amount. But when asked, Bilal allegedly claimed he kept the money inside the briefcase. This development led to the arrest of the policeman.
Ali’s widow and three children left for Kano, on Wednesday,with the police still investigating the matter with a view to arresting fleeing suspects.
Written by Evelyn Usman of Vanguard
Firstly, why go to the hotel to do business. He would not have done this with a Nigerian, so, why with a Lebanese.
ReplyDeleteSecond issue is about the hospitals turning away patients because of money. Aren't Doctors meant to have taken an autocratic oath. This emphasis on money against treatment of individuals is sickening and unless more is done, people will continue to die unnecessarily.
There's no need to insinuate he wouldn't go see a nigerian in a hotel. The crime could very well have been perpetrated in a residence.
DeleteIts so sad the young man lost his life, but I think these mallams need to begin to take more precautions. For such a huge amount they should employ armed escorts the costs may be high but their margins can accomodate this. There's no price to human lives.
The lebanese should be castrated.
Blak kofee,
Nne, no vex, the oath is Hippocratic, not autocratic.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteEvery business with its own risk. RIP Ali.
ReplyDeleted lebanese stabd Ali and ran out wid blood staind clothes*smh*hw e wan tk escape?dis story de somhow sha...
ReplyDeleteMaybe he panicked and tried to escape.
DeletePoor Ali ! May ur soul R.I.P.
ReplyDeleteConfirmed! Linda Ikeji has now employed someone to blog for her...another story that could have been edited to 2 paragraphs.
ReplyDeleteThis is so terrible, how can people be so mean to their fellow human. Between why was he rejected in two hospitals? is that how is done in Nigeria? u need to pay 2.5 million as a deposit before a stabbed victim can be treated?
ReplyDeleteLinda there is more to this gist o I know Nigerian police claimed the money involved is $10,000 because after collecting the $50,000 as exhibit they only tendered $10,000 when they got to their station I know becos am involved in the case somehow. Nigeria police sha.
ReplyDeleteLinda, why didn't you show the lebanese guys face? As for doing business in a hotel room it happens all the time and we have been told that Ali's number was given by someone Ali knew very well hence he was comfortable with the deal.
ReplyDelete@allegra, lol. it is hippocratic oat, not auto cratic...
ReplyDeleteYou are mad,how can u b laughing out loud in such a sorrowful matter,if it was ur relative will u LOL,may ur soul rest in peace ali
DeleteDon't know where to start..everything is so wrong..money exchange in the hotel..inadeqaute hospital services..Police corruption..the Lebanese vermin on the 9ja landscape!!
ReplyDeleteTired of lebanese attitude too dubious, stingy u wil neva work for them and paid u on time, they wil neva be in a country dat no corruptions, see again still usin us to hurt our selfs.
ReplyDeleteHuh? English pls..
DeleteHospitals pls stop rejecting ER patients, very bad n unheard of, Treatment first- save life first then ask for money, in this case this guy wud have been saved guess he lost a lot of blood n probably the hit he got on his head got to his brain, God help us, very soon u won't hear anything about it again. Mr lebanese will soon go scot free
ReplyDeleteAnon03:59 Linda said it the way it happen I happen to be staying in Apapa! D malam is well known as well
ReplyDeleteI didnt say the story was wrong I said there is more to it.I have my facts concerning the police issue I mentioned
DeleteYeah! Everybody know that police recovered all the money but gave only 10k dollars
DeleteThings are happening!!! RIP Ali... Wicked wrld indeed
ReplyDeleteI feel the money was just part of the ploy,when they went back into the room upon arresting the lebanese,they found two men inside,I think they wanted to use his body parts for rituals as well...jay.
ReplyDeleteSigh! May his soul RIPP
ReplyDelete@Allegra - 11.20AM-
ReplyDeleteThat must be Hippocratic Oath - one Doctors sign to agree to treat patients ethically.
Please there is a button on Google called Spell check - It was made for people like you.Always use it Next time.
My dear hippocratic oath is not signed o. Lol
Delete@allegra. Its unfortunate but Lagos state doctors are on indefinite strike so which explains why he was turned back.
ReplyDeleteAnd these people meet people anywhere. I have had one meet me in a hotel so don't blame him. He was trying to make ends meet. Blame the govt
@Allegra, actually, these money men will meet you at home or office or anywhere you ask them to- it is not a racism thing- my cousin's money man used to come to her office and he always had extra security on him- so to some extent, the victim made an error of judgement in not taking those extra measures
ReplyDeleteSMH at the first comment, Allegra if u have done Bureau business before as a traveller u will know that these people will meet u anywhere, especially if u came recommended, there is nothing wrong with meeting a customer up for business, every business has its own risk, its so Sad that a young man had to die because of another wicked human, may God help us all.
ReplyDeleteand 9ja hospitals i have no word for ur useless operating system, rejecting someone, 9ja is always in my prayers..
2.5 mill as down payment to treat a dying man.... May God incure his wrath on this mindless doctors... No passion for the job @ all.kmt
ReplyDeleteONOME says.........
ReplyDeleteSad sad sad.And wrong on many fronts.
Business in hotel room?Hospitals rejecting patient,money disappeared with police?
May he rest in peace...
It's Hippocrates oath,not autocratic oath.Nigeria's health service is wack,security wack,everything.......
I think nigerian doctors, and to an extent the nigerian police, signed the autocratic oath!
DeleteFrom what am seeing, the person who made the comment is not entirely wrong! Smh.
These Lebanese people have killed many Nigerians without the police suspecting them.
ReplyDeleteA long time ago, they killed a former President's wife and nobody suspected them.
Beware of doing business with most of them. Some of them are really good. Those are the ones from rich homes not Barawu.
How did he not forsee this, knowing something similar happened with his colleagues?? Don't leave the premises for business. Why can't the customers come to the office instead? This is naija. You shouldn't take such risk! Poor guy. R.I.P. Naija hospitals, you suck!! Lord knows how many people have died as a result of your useless rules. Smh!
ReplyDeleteNa wa oh.hmmm so sad.
ReplyDeleteVery painful and sad!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is how the story will end o, policemen will share d remaining $40000 and dat Lebanese will be set free, ocos d fada and son will Neva be caught. RIP ALI
In Nigeria,when doing business,avoid Indians 1st,Lebanese 2nd.Police has pocketed the remaining 40k,I worked in a company that had a bureau de change operator and when ever thieves stole from us,even though they were caught,the police always keeps the money somehow.
ReplyDeleteWateva the case is, the mallam is dead, recover the money and kill the suspects. Next thing plz....i am segun
ReplyDeleteAutocratic oath ? Buhahahaha
ReplyDeleteits only in Nigeria, hospitals reject patients without even trying! In my opinion such hopitals should be sued or closed down!!!
ReplyDeleteNigeria is becoming a big time hell hole!! i blame d hospitals for this mans death!! how can u reject a dying man! y r u a doctor den?? this is crazy!! all three hospitals r responsible for his death!! thats serious gross negligence!! Nigeria is a sick country and we need to pray that God heals our country!!
ReplyDeleteDis bastardize Lebanese must be short dead.
ReplyDeleteSo sad that our Nigerian doctors after taking oats to save lives end up taking money over the lives they swore to save,big shame.May his soul rest in peace
ReplyDeleteOaths not Quaker Oats. Lol
Deletethis issue of rejecting emergency patients is very terrible. just lost a friend who had an accident on lagos ibadan expressway bc she was rejected in three diff hospitals. she was coming frm sch where she went to defend her PHD thesis. pls let us voice out agst this till our legislators hear. RIP my friend and Ali
ReplyDeleteI'm a dr and it saddens me when I hear stories like this. A stab wound is serious but if emergency treatment is commenced, most patients survive. Why would hospitals deny a patient emergency services(and I'm sure its private hosps that rejected him)on grounds of lack of money. Many govt hosps have policies in place to commence emergency treatment and stabilize the patient before even asking for a dime. This is really sad. I hope the govt hosps have not abandoned this important pollicy!
ReplyDeleteThe story confuses the heck out of me o. What was their planning after stabbing him? Seems like a very badly planned crime. Even armed robbers need education. May his soul RIP and thank God they caught the attacker.
ReplyDeleteI know Ali very well he is a good customer & i have done business with him for some years now. It is so sad that his life was caught short by this wicked and callous lebanese. May God rest your soul Ali and grant comfort to your wife, children and relatives. May the wrath of God Almighty befall this evil doers. !!!Good bye!!!
ReplyDeleteLebanese people are very very bad people. They think they can get away with anything in Nigeria. I HATE THEM!! Nigerian Police should deal with this man.
ReplyDeleteAnoymous May 6, 2012 11:40 AM , dont be a retard! Linda clearly stated the the story was culled from the vanguard. Open ya eye!
ReplyDeleteWe all know where the money is Linda.Its just sad this shit happens
ReplyDeleteI think if i were you,I won't be too quick to judge the medical personnels involved.I know that the extent of the injury couldn't have been managed by a primary health care centre.The deceased died in the ICU as a result of multiple stab wound to the head and torso.For a hospital that requires a minimum deposit of 2.5 million for intensive care admission,i don't think it's a bad idea to request for financial commitment
ReplyDeleteuk hoapital will never ask a uk citizen to pay almost 12k pounds for ER,stop talking abt finicial treatment here alot of people ve died cos of huge finicial commitments.d only reason dey should reject a patient is if dey do nt ve a dr on duty...lagoon hoispital apapa is know for dis all dey want is money and at d end of d day waste lives,why?dey like to hold on to patients billing them and also kill dem...as for d lebanese i hope d police do nt secretly realese him after taking bribe....may Ali soul RIP
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