NELSON SAKAGUCHI, the Banco Noroeste director, has been charged with sending $242 million to Nigeria to pay for the building of an airport, in exchange for an upfront fee.

Mr Sakaguchi was a close friend of the main shareholders in the Brazilian bank — the Cochrane and Simonsen families. He is in jail in Switzerland, but denies the charge. He was persuaded by US investigators to travel from Brazil, to the US, where he was arrested under international law. Mr Sakaguchi allegedly spent some of the money, estimated to be $10 million, on the services of a Brazilian voodoo princess.

Emmanuel Nwude Odinigwe, the Nigerian chief who allegedly posed as the Governor of the Bank of Nigeria to persuade Mr Sakaguchi to invest in Nigerian projects, is also alleged to have posed as a trader in crude oil wanting to exchange millions of dollars for Nigerian naira for his businesses. He is in jail in Lagos, charged with theft, after allegedly trying to bribe government officials. He denies the charge.

Ikechukwu Christian Anajemba, another Nigerian chief, allegedly posed as the deputy governor of the Bank of Nigeria at the initial meeting with Mr Sakaguchi.

He was killed in a road accident in 1998 — believed to have been murdered — after spending millions of dollars on a lavish lifestyle that included buying two diamond-encrusted Rolex watches costing $200,000. Mr Odinigwe attended his funeral.

Amaka Anajemba, Chritian’s widow, is alleged to have posed as a “Mrs Agbakoba” at the original meeting with Mr Sakaguchi and attempted to bribe the head of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial and Crimes Commission with carrier bags full of cash. Mrs Anajemba is in jail in Nigeria, facing charges of theft, which she denies.

Naresh Asnani, a Pakistan-born businessman with UK citizenship, but resident in Nigeria, allegedly opened accounts with Lloyds TSB in Switzerland, before moving them to Citibank.

He was encouraged to go to Miami to speak with prosecutors, where he, too, was arrested.

Mr Asnani, imprisoned in Switzerland, faces charges of money-laundering, which he denies.

He has recanted on an admission of guilt of money-laundering.

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