EFCC Descends on Suspected Wonder Banks Operators

Segun Atanda/

Twenty-seven suspected operators of illegal financial institutions have landed in the net of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to EFCC’s spokesman in Ibadan, Oyo State, Mr Ayo Oyewole, the agency clamped down on the suspects in a bid to rid the nation of the infamous activities of the Wonder Banks Operators, popularly known as the Ponzi scheme.

He said that the suspects who were raided and arrested from different locations within Ibadan included Olayeni Oladokun Samuel, Managing Director of Unlimited Grace Investment Limited and 10 members of his staff, Chris N. Igbinake of Grooming Centre and four of his staff and Akanbi Oluwakemi of Grace & Mercy Households Improvement Initiative and four of her staff.

Others included staffers of Sobic Financial & Investment Consultant. They are Awokunle Olukemi, Sikiru Obadara, Olasunkanmi Michael, Adeoti Adegboyega, Oyewusi Esther and Ojekunle Victor Olukayode.

Oyewole stated: “The suspects have volunteered useful information to the operatives of the Commission in their quest to unravel the extent of their illegal activities.

“Investigations, however, have revealed that none of the arrested illegal financial institutions allegedly registered with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) before embarking on financial transactions with the members of the public. They allegedly give loans to innocent and unsuspecting members of the public who register with them after 10% deposit of the total loans sum and charge 15% to 20% interest on all the loans granted to them.

“It was also gathered that these companies have branches in and outside Oyo State with thousands of customers spread across Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Kwara States respectively and many more.

At the point of arrest, several copies of hand flyers for advertisement of their activities and laptops were recovered from them. They would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded and a PRIMA facie case is established against them.”