Ex-Billionaire, Goddy Anabor Explains His Unfortunate Fall & What Led To it

Oh dear, I read the interview from the beginning to the end.
One time billionaire, Goddy Anabor who was the talk of the town by all and
delight of musicians years back, a well-known IKEJA lord, has explained to E-27
magazine’s Bodun Kupoluyi, how he lost the billionaires, what led to his fall,
how he sold his properties and now left with none. How he made atleast three
people billionaires and have showed him no gratitude, above all how he sees
himself now and how he has come to reality with his present situation. It’s a
must read for every young person who wants to know how to manage his finances,
people around him and ofcourse LIFE. The full interview after the cut.

What happened to
Chief Goddy Anabor, how did you find yourself here?

You know God said, when you help, they will help you. I made
a lot of money from working with breweries, and different companies before I travelled
abroad. I relocated to make money through one Mr. Ben at Top Breweries owned by
Chief Lawson know a lot people in country, I’m Nigerian. I knew one Sogunro who
we used to call Agbemo; whenever he travelled to London, I always went him. I
knew all his children who were half-castes. That was how I brought Fatai
Sogunro who is also known as Chris Sogunro; he was a carpenter and bricklayer
in London. I made him. I taught him what I was doing, and he is a big man
today; he even used to borrow money from me.

In fact, in Lagos Sheraton Hotel, I spent 86million Naira in
hosting people from London for one year and three months. I have the receipts,
and you can go and ask them there. Today, things are very rough for me and my
family; in fact, I don’t even know what to say anymore. I see my name in all
the newspapers, and I don’t know why.

I trained people like Chris Sogunro, Tokunbo Sodunke, Dare
Babayemi, Wale Awesu, and many of them like that. I made them what they are,
and today, they are Billionaires. I’m surprised that they see me in this
condition; some of them say I’m pushing drugs, but they can’t help me out. I
don’t why they are such ingrates. It is only one man called Mike Biggy who
lives somewhere in Akowonjo that has helped me. He rented a house for me and
really takes care of me. I wonder why this people decided to treat me this way
considering the amount of money I spent on them. There was a time I had N3bn in
Equity Bank at Allen Avenue, Ikeja, which I spent on people. Anyway, I thank
God for my life. I started colour printing in Nigeria, and I was printing for
Thisday Newspaper, Punch, and many others. I also registered a security company
which was approved and I had a license. They gave three of us the license. We
had Vanni, Gordon and another one. I was even guarding the airport.

You were quite big
then; didn’t you invest your money wisely then?

I invested a lot of my money, but because of corruption,
mismanagement of the people handling the businesses ran them down. When you
have a business, it’s very good to employ people who are reliable and give them
some percentage of the investment or profits to get their commitments. That
lesson I learnt greatly. I was putting my wife and my family, they ran the
business down. My wife, Anthonia was even sharing money with people on
purchases and supplies.  My workers were
building houses from the money they were making from the companies without
letting me know.

How did you meet
Anthonia?

I met her at a Police Station when I was having a problem
then. She was a Sergeant then, very beautiful woman. She was working with Dan
Baba then and she was trying to assist me.

Was she your first
wife?

No, my first wife is an Ijebu woman called Toyin, and she is
still alive. I used to call her Toyin Tomato; she was always with Kolington,
Tayelolu and the likes.

Why did you part with
her?

I parted with her because she likes parties a lot.

But you were also
going to parties then?

I went to parties, but I could not leave my family and go to
parties. She used to leave our little son and go to parties. She had three
children for me. My first daughter, Bose, is a Phd holder in London. I have
another one who is a doctor, and Tunde who is in America.

Are they aware of
your situation?

Yes. They’ve tried.

I knew you had
properties on Isaac John and Alabi Crescent in Ikeja, what happened to them?

They took advantage of me because they knew I needed money.
I was offered N80m by a man called Basorun A.K for a house of about N300m. He
has been in jail for about 10 years now because he was a drug dealer.

What about your Guest
House on Joel Ogunnaike, GRA, Ikeja?

I rented it, and I gave it to Shina Eddo, who also rented it
from the family that owns it. Shina is a very good person to me.

What happened to your
fleet of cars because you had a penchant for them?

I had more than 50 cars like Bentley, Rolls Royce and
others. I usually bought cars that were newly manufactured. Household enemies
are the problems of my life. God has made me to see that the people I trusted
don’t even care about me.

Why do you think
everyone neglected you?

It’s corruption, distrust. I gave at least 60 percent of all
I had to people. I’m so happy on the street because people like Ade Balogun
take care of me.

What about Dare Babs;
who was he to you?

He was my driver. I brought him from Abeokuta to Lagos when
I was working at the Breweries. We had a problem because of some little money
of $5m, which was stolen by one Kenny, though we’ve settled it. He’s a very
good person, but I haven’t heard from him for some years now.

What’s your
relationship with Oghadiome?

He is my village brother; in fact, my compound brother from
Fuga in Edo State. The late Admiral Akhigbe was the governor of Lagos State
then; I think he was the one that made Oghadiome to become a deputy to Lucky
Igbinedion of Edo State then. When he became the Chief of Staff to Jonathan, I
went to Abuja to look for him. I was thinking he would call me for something
important because when his mother died, I was there. Even when they were
building the secretariat in Fugar, I was the one that contributed the most and
they named a hall there after me: Godwin Anabor Hall. Today, none of them
recognises me, and it’s very funny.20150805_0005122

Do you think what is
happening to you is Karma because you used to ‘obtain’ people then?

In the Bible, God says ”if you believe him, he will give you
joy. And for those that don’t believe him, he will give them power to acquire,
but those who believe in Him will take it from you.” God gave me money; I did
not obtain, it just came. If I obtained, they would have arrested me. I’ve
never been on trial; or jailed for any offence. I don’t have such a record.

For your information, I know I will come back again; that’s
why I’m speaking like this. I will come back again because you’re bound to go
up and down seven times and still have the grace. I believe in God.

What is your greatest
joy in life?

My joy is that I did not die and give people opportunity to
say good things about me when I’m gone. I’m alive to see how people are
treating me when I don’t have. In fact, people that I taught how to make money
then and who are now rich don’t want to touch me.

Ambassadors of
foreign countries used to attend your parties, what was your connection with
them?

It’s because I’m honest. If you’re honest, people will come
to you.

Tell me about your
background, where are you from?

I’m from Fugar, Auchi in Edo state, but I was born in Kano,
and grew up in Osogbo.

What about Ade
Bendel, I learnt he is your friend?

He is like my brother because he is from Owan in Edo State;
I met him in Lagos. I heard that he had some problems and he’s in prison;
that’s all I know about him so far.

If you come back
again, what lessons have you learnt in life?

I want people to know that the friend you have now is not
your best friend; in fact, your household enemy is your family. It’s just you
and God, believe me. Always watch your back.

Who is left with you
now?

It’s God, and He is working because I’m living and enjoying.
I still believe in Philippians 4:13. ‘I can do everything through Him who gives
me strength.’

There was a report
that you are now driving cab, is that true?

People are just writing whatever they like. A lot of people
want to give me cars and other things. When God has blessed you, he has blessed
you. Did you not see my driver, yes, he drives me in a Toyota call Pencil
Light, but I’m not the one driving or doing kabukabu with it. I’ve learnt to live
with my condition after all; I’m alive to see it all.

What is your greatest
prayer to God now?

My prayer can be found in Psalm 1 which says, ‘Blessed is
the man who does not walk in the midst of the wicked.’ He says he will bless
them and make them like trees planted by the riverside. That’s what I prayed
that I became a rich man. Forget about gossips.

How old are you
chief?

I’m 55, and I was born on February 19.

Where is Anthonia and
your children now?

They’re in London.

Tell me your last
word?

My last word is that everybody should watch their back,
because there are household enemies.