Eric Patrick
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a wanted notice for four individuals in connection with an alleged fraud perpetrated on a crypto trading platform, Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX).
The announcement was made in a special circular issued by the agency on Friday evening, identifying the four suspects as Adefowora Olanipekun, Adefowora Oluwanisola, Emmanuel Uko, and Seyi Oloyede.
First News correspondent learnt that apart from the above individuals mentioned a government-owned radio station known as the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC), actively promoted the now-collapsed CBEX Ponzi scheme to its listeners, packaging it as a legitimate poverty alleviation initiative and encouraging vulnerable Nigerians to invest.
First News had earlier reported that after the Ponzi scheme disappeared with over 82 billion dollars, some angry victims stormed one of the CBEX offices in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, to vandalise and loot properties.
Victims took to social media in a wave of despair, with many sharing heartbreaking videos and posts on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter).
READ ALSO: EFCC Obtains Arrest Warrants for Six CBEX Promoters Over $1b Fraud
A woman identified only as Pretty Nikky Babe posted a tearful video saying, “CBEX don my savings,” capturing the emotional collapse many are experiencing. Another victim, Bola, was seen weeping in front of the company’s looted office in Ibadan, lamenting the loss of her funds.
“Me 200 dollars, but I collected all my friends money, all the money 1,000 dollars,” she cried. “All my life savings, after working in Libya.”
Another victim, Oguonu Nchedo Esther, shared her grief online: “To everyone here…pls don’t cry too much, God will see us through…my kids are just crying as if someone died…all the hopes I gave them are just scattered…we are back to zero…lost $1000…is not the end of life…”
Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad had also reacted to the crash, writing: “So, our Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) warned Nigerians against patronising CBEX after they clarified that they did not register with the Commission, and our people still went ahead and invested their money.”
