A Nigerian Embassy official has been caught on camera admitting to using his diplomatic immunity to smuggle out money and goods to any part of Africa and outside.
An ITV crew with a hidden camera went out to met the staff member and talked about making some transactions through him.
The official named Mr Alfa Abutu met with the ITV crew in a London hotel, where he explained his tactics and how he will make it work.
He said: “The easiest way is that, let’s say this box is loaded with $1 million and they are going out with it or gold, or diamond. With my link, we use a diplomatic vehicle from here straight to Heathrow or Gatwick.”
“Give me your suitcase, this suitcase usually has to be wrapped with the national flag before we can move it anywhere. And we use diplomatic vehicle whereby the police authorities will not stop us.”
They had informed Mr. Abutu that they had an art worth about a million pounds they want to transport and Mr. Abutu demanded a commission of £250,000.
Abut assured the undergroung journalists that he could make it happen, he said: ”The easiest way is that, let’s say this box is loaded with $1 million and they are going out with it or gold, or diamond. With my link, we use a diplomatic vehicle from here straight to Heathrow or Gatwick,”.”They will not open the box they are bringing out. It’s not a problem.”
After Mr.Abutu later found out it was a fake deal, and was asked to comment on Exposure’s findings, Abutu denied any wrongdoing and said he had never been involved in criminal activities. He said he is local staff, not a diplomat, doesn’t have diplomatic immunity and couldn’t have assisted the Exposure team to move an item
The Nigeria High Commission upon hearing this and seeing the video,has suspended Abutu from his office where he served for six years.
