The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has returned N96.5 million to victims of a ponzi scheme operated in Enugu State.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, announced the development in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, noting that the refund aligns with the commission’s drive to fight economic crimes and secure restitution for defrauded citizens.
The case began after the commission received a petition dated September 30, 2024, from Chijioke Ngwu and several others against Oyubu Akpojewve, also known as Justice Nonso Chima, the Managing Director of Leverage Index Limited.
The victims alleged that Akpojewve convinced them to invest in a fraudulent scheme masked as a forex trading opportunity.
He reportedly marketed two investment formats to prospective investors. The first, tagged a Monthly Plan, required a minimum deposit of N2.5 million into a UBA account for forex trading, with a promised monthly return of N200,000 or eight percent of the capital. The capital could be rolled over for subsequent trading cycles.
The second format, known as Live Trading, allowed investors to transfer any amount for a one-day trading session, with a guaranteed profit of 10 percent to be paid the following day.
After attracting investments totaling N96.5 million, Akpojewve, who posed as a certified forex trader, began giving excuses about issues with trading partners. Shortly after, he shut down his office and became unreachable, prompting the victims to seek EFCC intervention.
Investigations revealed that Akpojewve conspired with accomplices to defraud investors of their savings.
During the handover of the recovered funds in Enugu, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, represented by the Zonal Director, Daniel Isei, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to denying criminals access to illicit wealth and ensuring that victims regain their assets.
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He urged Nigerians to exercise caution in financial dealings, warning that offers that seem too good to be true often lead to losses.
“We should not be in a hurry to double our money overnight. Let this experience guide you and others around you,” he said.
Recipients of the refunds expressed gratitude to the commission.
Ukwu Ernest Ikechukwu, who received a bank draft of N19.9 million, praised the EFCC for its professionalism.
Another victim, Ikechukwu Ogbunubi, who received N10 million, commended the agency’s resilience in recovering the entire sum.
Other beneficiaries include Temple Lewis Maduka (N7.5 million), Ngwu A (N19.4 million), and Alphonsus Umeh (N7 million).
The EFCC said efforts are ongoing to ensure full accountability and justice in the case.
