Protesters of failed Ponzi scheme at the Port Harcourt Zonal office of EFCC on Tuesday
From Blessing Ibunge, Port Harcourt
Residents of Rivers State in their number yesterday, protested to the Port Harcourt Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) demanding the arrest and prosecution of the Chief Executive Officer of a failed ponzi scheme, Cafint Resources Limited.
The protesters who are victims of the failed ponzi scheme in disguise of Forex investment, claimed Mr Samuel Chijioke Okonkwo, the online CEO defrauded them.
Speaking on behalf of the fraud victims, Ken Okorie, disclosed that the trouble started when the alleged fraudulent scheme which started in October 2020 promised to pay dividends months later and could not fulfill its promise.
Okorie, who invested over N1m said he was yet to get either his money nor any devidends, “I invested over N1m in September and till now nothing, so many of us have died out of the frustration that Samuel Okonkwo have bestowed on us, we have been going to his office and nobody is talking to us, he (Okonkwo) told us he is going to pay between March and April, but until now, no one is talking to us.
“We have heard from a reliable source that he has bought a transport company and a vast estate close to the airport with our money, we are telling everyone who wants to invest in that estate that it is a fraud.
“This issue started in October, November and December, last year, while I invested around September, 2020, after someone introduced it to me because they promised to pay some percentage to you if you introduce people into the business, and the funny thing is that each time you go their office, you will see a crowd of security men, protecting these fraudulent people.
“So what we want from the EFCC is justice, we want our money back, we only the government and public to hear our voice that this is what is happening in this country, we don’t want any trouble,” Okorie added.
Chairman, Rivers Civil Society Organisations, Enefaa Grorgewill, who led the protest, said the EFCC had demanded details concerning the incident from them, promising to do the needful, adding that his organisation would ensure that swindlers have no place to hide in the state.
“As you are aware, we have gone into the EFCC to complain about one Mr Samuel Chijioke Okonkwo, who defrauded Nigerians through his fraudulent company called Cafint Resources Limited and inside the EFCC we met the Port Harcourt Zonal head, who listened to us and have us full assurance that he would see to the end of this matter.
“The head of the EFCC equally showed us more petitions against this same man from other persons and informed us that they have initiated steps against the man, the EFCC have also asked us to bring to them more information and we have agreed on a later day to furnish them with the extra information”.
Enefaa added “As part of Civil Society, we are going to make sure that we are going to fish out this criminal who have committed this crime, the law catches up with him. Let me use this medium to advise to Nigerians to be weary of magic banks who promise and ponzi investments who promise profits in double digits.”
Our correspondent reported that victims who carried placards and banners to express their displeasure, sought the refund of swindled funds summing in billions of Naira, while decrying the alarming prevalence of fraudulent financial schemes in the state.
