The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has returned N96.5 million to victims of a forex-based Ponzi scheme in Enugu State. The funds were handed over on Friday, according to a statement issued in Abuja by the commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale.
The refund follows a petition filed on September 30, 2024, by Chijioke Ngwu and others against Oyubu Akpojewve, also known as Justice Nonso Chima, Managing Director of Leverage Index Limited. The petition alleged that Akpojewve lured investors into depositing millions of naira on the promise of monthly profits and forex trading returns.
According to the petition, investors were offered two investment packages: a “Monthly Plan,” requiring a minimum deposit of N2.5 million with a guaranteed monthly return of N200,000 or 8 percent, and a “Live Trading” option where investors were promised a 10 per cent profit within 24 hours of trading. The petitioners said Akpojewve presented himself as a certified forex trader but later disappeared after making excuses about disagreements with trading partners.
Oyewale said EFCC operatives traced the funds and uncovered evidence showing that Akpojewve conspired with accomplices to defraud unsuspecting investors.
Speaking during the handover of the recovered funds, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, represented by the Enugu Zonal Director, Daniel Isei, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to tackling economic crimes and ensuring victims are compensated.
“This should also serve as a lesson,” Olukoyede said. “We should be more cautious and vigilant. Some offers may look too good to be real. We should not be in a hurry to double money overnight.”
He encouraged Nigerians to verify investment platforms and warned that the commission would continue to deny fraudsters access to proceeds of crime.
Some beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the recovery. Ukwu Ernest Ikechukwu, who received N19.9 million, commended the EFCC for professionalism, while another victim, Ikechukwu Ogbunubi, who received N10 million, praised the commission’s dedication.
