The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over N96.5 million to victims of a Ponzi scheme operating in Enugu State.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale announced the development in a statement on Friday in Abuja, describing it as part of the agency’s commitment to fighting financial crimes and ensuring restitution for defrauded Nigerians.
The recovery followed 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 petitioners alleged that Akpojewve lured them into a fake forex investment through two packages a Monthly Plan promising a fixed N200,000 monthly profit or 8% returns, and a Live Trading option that offered 10% profit within 24 hours.
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After collecting funds running into millions, the suspect allegedly shut down his office and became unreachable. EFCC operatives traced the scheme, uncovered a network of conspirators, and recovered part of the stolen funds.
During the handover, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede represented by the Enugu Zonal Director, Daniel Isei urged Nigerians to be cautious of business offers that promise unrealistic returns.
“Some deals look too good to be real. We should not be in a hurry to double our money overnight,” he warned, advising victims to treat the experience as a learning point.
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Beneficiaries of the refunds include Ukwu Ernest Ikechukwu (N19.9m), Ikechukwu Ogbunubi (N10m), Temple Lewis Maduka (N7.5m), Ngwu A. (N19.4m), and Alphonsus Umeh (N7m). They commended the EFCC for its professionalism and efforts in recovering the funds.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
