The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says
individuals who invested in the CBEX digital trading platform will get their
money back.
EFCC said it was already tracking the CBEX trading platform
before the recent public outcry.
According to several posts on X, the CBEX, which promised
investors a 100 percent return on investment, began experiencing trouble last
weekend as many could no longer withdraw their funds.
On Monday, aggrieved ‘investors’ had reportedly looted the
office of Smart Treasure (ST Team), an arm of the CBEX crypto trading platform,
in the Oke Ado axis of Ibadan, Oyo state.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Morning Brief on Wednesday, Dele
Oyewale, the spokesperson of the EFCC, said the anti-graft agency has been
receiving numerous calls from Nigerians seeking information and remedies
regarding CBEX.
He said before the recent outcry and calls, EFCC had
profiled the platform and alerted Nigerians about potential ponzi schemes.
“We were not waiting for Nigerians to call us before we
started our work, of course, we have been working,” Oyewale said.
“We were not beaten
by what actually happened. Our dragnet is wide, our intelligence is very
effective, and we were tracking that digital trading platform.
“We were tracking it, we profiled quite a number of things
concerning the platform. You will recall that March 11th this year, the
executive chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, had call to instruct us to
alert Nigerians.”
The spokesperson recalled that about 58 ponzi scheme
companies were listed by the commission in March for Nigerians to be wary of.
“That shows that we are proactive and we have our hands on
what is happening. So concerning this investigation, we were on it, it’s not
that we didn’t know,” he said.
“We’ve been alerting
Nigerians about ways and means how to separate themselves from this kind of
shenanigans.
“Before the calls came, we were working, while the calls are
coming, we are working; And even after the calls, we are still working.
“The essential thing is that, of course, we are going to
recall some of the things that Nigerians should be looking out for, you know,
concerning this kind of investment schemes and all of that.”
‘INVESTORS WILL HAVE
THEIR MONEY BACK’
Oyewale further assured investors that their money will be
recovered, though it may take time.
“No, it will be very irresponsible and unprofessional if the
EFCC says that you have lost your money; there is nothing the commission can do
about it,” the spokesperson said.
“We are already
working with Interpol and our international development agencies to ensure that
these people are brought to book.
“Investors are going to get their money back, and we are
already working on that. Everything I’m saying is this kind of thing could have
been averted.
“Be it as it may, it
was not averted, we are not going to throw our hands out helplessly and say
that there’s nothing EFCC can do about it.
“We are more responsible and professional than that. We have
spread out our wings by talking to Interpol and the necessary agencies across
the world to be able to bring all the actors to book, and investors will have
their money back.”
Oyewale said the investments might not be recovered in the
short term, but EFCC will not allow investors to lose their money.
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