Defamation of Character by Unfair Victimization

Every truly successful entrepreneur will attest to the fact, that they have their fair share of negative victimization, or character assassination by malicious competitors and dream stealers.

I am reminded of the great quote from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who wrote that “Heights by great men reached and kept, were not obtained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night”

Successful people do attract their fair share of jealousy and envy, and some people will go to great lengths where possible to sadly defame their character in a bid to thwart their dreams, or sabotage their expansion and growth aspirations.

One such individual who was unfairly targeted by these dark individuals is the global businessman and intrepid entrepreneur Mr Mahmood Ahmadu. This is a gentleman with an acknowledged reputation as generous and kind hearted even to a fault. Mr Ahmadu is always concerned about the welfare of humans around the world, and constantly seeks for better ways to improve and contribute to humanity.

Mahmood goes out of his way to make room for others and has been responsible for the upward trajectory of many, usually done privately without fanfare.

So in 2013, it came as a real shock when Mr Ahmadu’s name was linked with the unfortunate incident of the E-recruitment scam in Abuja for the Nigerian Immigration Service, and the ensuing stampede which caused many injuries, and sadly twenty fatalities.

Several Nigerian newspapers, online blogs, and social media platforms began publishing false allegations and associating Mr Ahmadu with this regrettable event. Some key players in this saga, who were actually accused for this terrible event, were Mr. Abba Moro, former Interior Minister, Ms. Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia, Deputy Director, and F. O Alayebami. All of these individuals are being charged by the Nigerian Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

So why is Mr Ahmadu’s name being maliciously and intentionally associated with these accused? It is simply to tarnish his image as an international business man, and to inflict as much reputational damage as possible knowing that words like ‘money laundering’ or ‘scam’ will have a terrible adverse effect on his name.

Some of these publications began referring to Mahmood Ahmadu as ‘at large’ or as an accomplice and insinuating that he was the handler of the E-recruitment scam and the fake subterfuge of money laundering.

The Facts

Mahmood Ahmadu is the founder of one of the leading IT companies in Africa, this means his company successfully executes many high level contracts for many apex institutions including governments.

His company was responsible for constructing the online registration portal on behalf of the Nigerian Immigration Service. The job applicants approximately 500,000 of them, used this online portal for their application to the Nigerian Immigration Service, and paid a fee of N1000 each.

This was Mahmood Ahmadu’s only involvement, not him personally, but his company executing the contract of constructing an online portal which enabled the Nigerian Immigration Service to manage the applications and collect the required application fees.

So why is he being personally named, and why is he being associated with the accused persons? Simply to tarnish his good name and create difficulties for him because of jealousy and malicious envy!

Even after executing this contract, Mahmood a deeply spiritual man, and in his usual generous practice donated several pieces of technological equipment, such as the latest computers free of charge to aid the immigration service in delivering their jobs which none of the articles mention.

Several online articles published in 2016 states this fake headings – “EFCC sends INTERPOL after Moro’s accomplice” insinuating that the EFCC and INTERPOL are after Mahmood Ahmadu. Many of these online articles never bothered or took the time to investigate the facts, and consequently provide their readers with the correct information.

Anybody with a reasoning and active mind will understand that if top agencies like the EFCC or INTERPOL lists any person as wanted, that person could not freely travel the world criss crossing all major international airports weekly and monthly conducting his business. Mahmood continues to work out of his various offices regularly and travelling globally, meeting with top government officials and top business men from Europe, America, Asia and Africa.

Mahmood Ahmadu has clearly been a victim of cyber bullying and malicious character assassination by very dark and obscure people paying ignorant individuals to report ‘fake news’.

Conclusion

Wherever Mahmood has found himself, in whichever country, he endeavours to be involved with the local community. For instance in his time in the UK a lot of his focus was dedicated to the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He is very involved with many charitable events and contributions which he never speaks about, unless you happen to be close to him you will not know of these acts. In the UK he was presented with the first UK ‘Empowering Communities Award’ by the Asian Voice Charity Awards in 2016, addressing Mahmood Ahmadu as a man of distinction and integrity.

In the same year in London, he was presented with ‘The London Leadership and Peace Award’ presented by the then mayor of London Boris Johnson at City Hall London. It is interesting to note that these were high level events in the presence of huge crowds, at a time when INTERPOL was supposed to be after him!

In the same year 2016 in London the International Strategic Alliance Committee (ISAC) presented him with ‘The Nigerian Economic Development Award’ at a huge gala organised at the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre, Westminster.

He was also honoured with a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by the Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts (BEFFTA) organisation in 2016.

Mahmood is a member of the oldest business membership organisation in the UK, the Institute of Directors (IoD) a community of UK’s top business leaders.

Mahmood Ahmadu is the recipient of one of Nigeria’s highest honours ‘The Officer of the Order of Niger Award(OON)

Mahmood has been a victim of vicious and malicious slander by people envious of his huge success and attempting to damage him reputationally. Fortunately all these side attempts have not succeeded in affecting his blessings, as people are still very much attracted to him, and many still want to engage with him from around the world.

There is an old adage that says “You can’t keep a good man down”

Article by Empire Builders Entrepreneurs Trust (London 2018)