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419 scam: SA warrant issued
11/02/2003 14:03 - (SA)
Johannesburg - A warrant has been issued in South Africa for the arrest of a Nigerian businessman believed to be standing in forthcoming elections there, said the directorate of public prosecutions on Tuesday.
The directorate's Sipho Ngwema said the warrant had been issued for Phil Okafor, wanted for allegedly trying to con wealthy foreigners out of more than R97m as part of the infamous "419" scam.
The wealthy businessman, who is also the legal adviser to the South African branch of Nigeria's ruling People's Democratic Party, will face at least nine charges of fraud if he re-enters South Africa.
He is in Nigeria campaigning for the parliamentary elections scheduled for May and the directorate has yet to decide if any further measures will be taken against him, said Ngwema.
Nine foreigners defrauded - Scorpions
The directorate was granted a court order last week to seize Okafor's R1.8m home and two luxury cars registered in the name of his South African wife, Yogandrie Naidoo. Ngwema said Okafor's property had been attached on Monday.
In papers brought before the Johannesburg High Court last week, the Scorpions alleged that Okafor defrauded at least nine foreigners with the help of David Seabi, an employee of the German international finance house, Commerzbank.
Also last week, Debo Sodeke, national secretary-general of the People's Democratic Party's South African chapter, said Okafor was being expelled for "anti-party activities," including campaigning to stand for the opposition party.
- SAPA
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