Olumayowa Akogun-Abudu, a military veteran and a former
security officer at African Industry (African Fertilisers), has written a
petition calling the attention of Department of State Service (DSS) and the
Nigerian government to the atrocities of the company, which include illegal
migration, tax evasion, money laundering, and sexual assault on staff.
This copy of the petition made available to Newsmen on
Sunday, January 19th, 2025, reads:
A spectre looms over the African industries. A cunning
parasite masquerading as an expert, the Indian immigrant has infiltrated our
economic landscape with an insidious agenda: the exploitation of our resources,
the erosion of our sovereignty, and the enslavement of our people.
Under the veneer of expertise and benevolence, this
colonial-esque onslaught has unleashed havoc on our society, perpetuating a
cycle of injustice, inequity, and oppression. This is a rallying cry for every
Nigerian and especially the offices concerned to be alerted to their
responsibilities about the possible violation and disregard for the Federal
Government Immigration Laws and many other nefarious illegalities being
perpetrated by some unscrupulous saboteurs within the ranks and files of
African Industries Group, Agbara, Ogun State, to include but not limited to
Messrs. Shaji Ashokan, Sudhakar Rao Patnaik, among others, whose activities
require immediate investigation.
The time has come to shatter the silence and sound the alarm
bells! A deafening silence has descended upon our land, allowing these wolves
in sheep’s clothing to ravage the fabrics of our nation without consequences.
Hence, we must arise, speak out, and reclaim what is rightfully ours.
The alleged immigration violations of the company under
reference needed to be studied, as Sudhakar Rao Patnaik, has continue to serve
and operate as the security manager of African Industries Group, Agbara, Ogun
State which act is an affront to the rule of law in Nigeria especially the
Nigeria Immigration Act of 2015 which stipulates that non-Nigerians, including
Indians, are not allowed to engage in certain restricted occupations, including
security managers, and the continued appointment and service of Sudhakar Rao
Patnaik as the security manager of African Industries Group, Agbara, Ogun State
is a direct affront and a blatant disregard for the sovereignty of our country.
The use of visiting visas to evade proper documentation and regulation of
foreign workers is a matter that must not be taken with a kid’s glove.
Furthermore, reports of sexual abuse and exploitation of
female workers by these foreign expatriates’ call for urgent attention, as
these heinous acts not only violate the fundamental human rights of the victims
but also betray the trust and good faith of the Nigerian people. It is an
outrage that such exploitation can be carried out with impunity and that those
who challenge it are met with retaliation and dismissal. We believe that this
blatant violation of our laws and disregard for human dignity demands a swift
and decisive response from the DSS.
Adding insult to injury, the Indian company engages in tax
evasion. Despite deducting tax from the already meagre salaries of its Nigerian
workers, the company has continually failed to consistently remit this tax to
the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as required by the law. This blatant
disregard for the tax laws of the country is yet another demonstration of the
company’s contempt for our sovereignty and our laws.
It is of grave concern that African Industry Group has
established several subsidiary companies in Nigeria, to include but not limited
to:
1. Capital Cold Rolling Steel Mill LTD
2. APC, African Power Company
3. African Wire and Allied Limited
4. African Wire and Allied Limited 2
5. Silicate African Fertilizer and Chemical LTD
6. West Africa Steel Processing and Export Company
7. African Hydro Chemical Limited
8. Elite Glass Limited
9. African Float Glass
However, it is observed that some of these companies are not
fully registered with the relevant statutory bodies and agencies, despite being
operational. This situation creates potential legal issues, as unregistered
companies may not have the necessary legal protections and may be subject to
penalties for non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Given the
number of unregistered companies under the African Industry Group's umbrella,
it is possible that the group is engaged in illegal activities, such as tax
evasion, money laundering, or other fraudulent practices.
The DSS should "beam their eagle search" on the
African Industry Group, investigating the potential violations of Nigerian laws
and regulations to ensure that the group is not engaging in criminal activities
and to protect the Nigerian people from any potential harm.
In addition to the issues surrounding the unregistered
companies of the African Industry Group, there is cause for concern regarding
the employment of Mr. Sudhakar Rao Partnaik as Security Manager at the African
Fertilizers division in Agbara, Nigeria. Mr. Partnaik, an Indian national, is
believed to have entered the country on a tourist visa, despite having taken up
a sensitive security position with the African Industry Group. This raises
questions about the legality of his appointment, as well as the true nature and
purpose of his activities within the company. Moreover, there have been
allegations of Mr. Partnaik's involvement in activities that appear to be in
violation of Nigerian laws and standards of conduct. Specifically, he has
allegedly used his position to abuse and assault Nigerians, rather than handing
them over to the Nigerian police as would be the appropriate course of action in
such circumstances.
These honest violations, combined with the potential fraud and
illegal activities surrounding the African Industry Group's unregistered
companies, warrant an immediate investigation by the DSS.
The safety and security of the Nigerian people must be a top
priority, and the DSS should take swift and decisive action to uncover any
wrongdoing and hold those responsible accountable. The situation at African
Fertilizers is even more disturbing when considering the following concerns: The
company is employing illegal immigrants, aided by Mr. Shaji Ashokan, the human
resource manager.
African fertilisers are believed to be evading tax payments,
thus depriving the Nigerian government of much-needed revenue.
Nigerians working at African Fertilizers have allegedly been subjected to unfair and exploitative labor conditions, with wages that are far below the current minimum wage, thus undermining their dignity and quality of life. Beneath the façade of these so-called “experts” lurked the predatory instincts of rabid vultures. Female workers, already ensnared in the web of this exploitative enterprise, became easy prey for the depraved hunger of these Indian immigrants.
The gruesome rituals of sexual exploitation, a harrowing
ordeal inflicted on these unsuspecting women, had become commonplace in this
toxic workplace. But the moment a brave soul dared to resist, to stand against
the tidal wave of oppression, she was met with a chilling fate. Her cries for
justice, her desperate pleas for mercy, fell on deaf ears. Instead, the
oppressive regime of the Indian immigrant struck with swift and brutal
retribution, reducing her to nothing more than another casualty in their
unending crusade of subjugation.
Dismissal, the ceremonial purge of insubordination, became a
common refrain for those who dared to stand against tyranny and the tyrants.
The message was clear: Submit or suffer. But little did they know that the
embers of resistance were burning brighter than ever before.
To this end, it is increasingly becoming irksome on our psyche
as we can no longer sleep with our two eyes closed. Like lambs to the
slaughter, workers were being picked off one by one, dismissed without cause,
without mercy. The brutal efficiency of this purge left no room for appeals or
explanations. The Indian immigrants operated with clinical precision of
well-oiled machinery, grinding the hopes and aspirations of the workers beneath
the weight of their power. And as the survivors watched in terror, their fear
palpable in the cold air, they knew their time was numbered. The injustices
inflicted upon our people, the inequality fuelled by foreign domination, the
systemic oppression that threatens to stifle our collective voice-these are
affronts to the very core of our being as a nation.
In conclusion, the time for action is now! The concerned
authorities must act swiftly and decisively to address these egregious
violations of the Nigerian law. The use of improper visas, sexual abuse of
workers, and tax evasion are all acts that must be condemned in the strongest
terms.
We demand that the company be held accountable for its actions
and that justice be served for the victims of its crimes. A clear message must
be passed that Nigeria will not tolerate any attempts to subvert our laws or
violate the human rights of our citizens.
On phone conversation with News Peddlers Sudhakar Rao Patnaik,
who initially confirmed to be the security manager, he later denied that and
also refused to say anything further about the petition.
All attempts to reach Mr. Shaji Ashokan, the human resource
manager, were not successful as the time this report was made.
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