TheCable

The government of Antigua and Barbuda says it is aware of the Nigerian couple accused of fraud and their alleged plans to enter the country.

The couple, Bamise Ajetumobi and Elizabeth Ajetunmobi, his wife, founders of Imagine Global Solutions Limited, a micro-lending firm, reportedly fleed Nigeria with billions of naira belonging to their investors.

In a video, Gaston Browne, the country’s prime minister, said the couple would be “captured if they come to Antigua”.

TheCable could not independently verify the video, but Daily Observer, Antigua’s flagship newspaper under the OBSERVER Media Group, reported that the event happened on Tuesday at the parliament.

Reports had alleged the couple fled to Antigua as their passports surfaced on the internet, showing it was procured in April — months before their disappearance.

PiggyVest and The Elevation Church (TEC) have denied any involvement with the company.

Browne said the government of Antigua and Barbuda would capture and repatriate them to Nigeria.

“I just saw an article of a Nigerian gentleman who recently ostensibly — it has not been verified — but it is reported. There are pictures of passport back pages of himself and his wife; that he and his wife obtained Antiguan and Barbudan passports, citizenship under the CIP programme and that person is now wanted for defrauding a number of Nigerians,” Browne said in the video.

“Just today, an article emerged that there is a Nigerian who is wanted by Nigerian authorities for defrauding some of his fellow Nigerians.

“I have already put systems in place to ensure that if he is not here yet that they could capture him on his way here because Antigua and Barbuda is not going to be a refuge for scamps.

“Our CIP programme is designed to attract and to incentivise investments, not to be a safe haven for crooks.

“This government will continue to do all in its power to ensure that those who violate and they seek refuge here that eventually they are repatriated from whence they came. It’s just a matter of time. Some of them may get temporary refuge here but we have no doubt that ultimately, they will be repatriated.”