Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have apprehended 32 suspects alleged to have defrauded unsuspecting Nigerians, fleecing them of cash through job fraud and illicit Ponzi schemes.
According to the anti- graft agency, investigations on the cases involving the suspects arrested at different locations in the state have commenced.
Dele Ojewale, Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, who disclosed this explained that the arrests followed petitions on allegations ofPonzi-style investments and employment scam at multiple locations in Uyo, the state capital.”
He listed the suspects to include; Miracle Samuel, Christopher Samuel, Yohana Sabo, Ahmed Abdulahi Yarima, Reuben Ezekiel, Terfa Godwin, Zakurs Yakubu, Isah Jaafar Jagaba, Clement Nwakonobi, Rosemary Vifilo Yusuf Ataza, Francis Samuel, Tatah Fidelis, Emenike Ikechukwu, David Allawo, Danjuma Ibrahim, Blessing Seagod, Suleiman Saidu, Nuhu Bridget, Ebi Nwose and Anthony Fredrick.
Others are Mathew Satasi Zamani, Hassan Yakubu, Benjamin Obadiah, Stephen Joseph,Toma Peter, Samson Galadimma, Ochim Agnes and Mahmud Sufiyan, Ephraim Emmanuel, Kenneth Okonkwo, Jeremiah Emmanuel, and Abdulmajid Barde, with some alleged to be the coordinators of the various locations of the criminal gang.
“Their arrest followed weeks of surveillance regarding the alleged criminal activities of the gang,” he explained.
According to a petitioner, a member of the syndicate named Sufiyan Mahmud, called his elder brother regarding a job opening at a non-existent oil and gas company purportedly called ‘TROPICANA OIL AND GAS COMPANY’, which the brother allegedly asked him(the petitioner) to apply for.
Following this call, the petitioner recalled that he had to abandon his fashion design business in Kogi state, and arrived Uyo on the June 15, 2025, and was received by another member of the syndicate named Abdulmajid, who claimed to be the younger brother to the Managing Director, of the fictitious oil and gas company.
The particulars of the case stated that the petitioner was subsequently taken to another location where he was interviewed by another member of the gang named Zamani Matthew, who cautioned him against asking too many questions, but to accept whatever he was told and to comply with whatever instructions he was given, one of which included a payment of N900,000, with an initial deposit that must not be less than N150,000.
Read also:
- EFCC declares Sujimoto Boss, Olasijibomi Ogundele, wanted over alleged money laundering
- EFCC arrest 59 internet fraud suspects in Abuja
- EFCC cracks down on internet fraud, 23 suspects arrested in Oyo
“So I paid them N200,000 after my wife sold off some of our belongings and sent me the money. Then, they took me to the lodge, and I was shocked at what I saw. Shoes littered everywhere with a lot of people who looked malnourished, and I joined them.
“After some time, they asked me to bring two people, which I did. After a while, I paid up the entire N900,000, while the two people that I brought paid N690,000 and N300,000, respectively.
“But the whole thing did not feel right because I came to Uyo for an oil and gas job, but I was now told that I will advertise and market some Q-Net products and will be paid $100 USD weekly when I bring two people, which never happened.
“I became uncomfortable when they started asking me to also try and lure others into using Tropicana Oil and Gas Company like they did to me. It was then I told them that I cannot do that. So, I stopped eating their food and that was when my brother and I started getting our senses back and we eventually left the place and found the lawyer that helped us to send the petition to EFCC,” the petitioner’s statement reads.
Preliminary investigations, according to the EFCC, “has so far shown that the syndicate collected funds from thousands of investors across Nigeria by making bogus promises of unrealistic returns on investments within short investment windows, thereby misrepresenting their activities to their victims as legitimate product marketing.”
The Commission revealed that “during questioning, the coordinators of the different locations claimed that they were network marketers advertising various products, including drugs, which are currently being analyzed by investigators for authenticity and regulatory compliance.”
Some of their victims identified so far included; Abubakar Umar Favour N1,000,000; Tanko Kasimu N800,000; Abubakar Abdurahman Jimba N900,000; Usman Faisu Adamu, N900,000; Korna Emmanuel, N950,000; Yakubu Musa, N160,000; Happiness Mathew, N100,000; Umbugu Akolo Revelation, N80,000; Hussani Aminu, N200,000; Samuel James, N200,000; Albert Gabriel, N250,000; Daniel Dorathy, N1,700,000; and Kasimu Lukman Haruna, N850,000.
“Investigations are ongoing, with more victims expected to come forward.
The syndicate reportedly operated from several locations in Akwa Ibom State, including Ekom Iman Flyover, Transformer Junction, Abak Road, and Apostolic Lane, Nwaniba,” EFCC said.
Items recovered from the suspects include 35 mobile phones, two Point-of-Sale (POS) machines, three public address systems, and various incriminating documents and digital evidence.
The Commission, therefore, warned prospective investors to “always verify the licensing status of investment entities, avoid schemes promising unrealistic or guaranteed returns, and exercise caution with unsolicited investment offers, particularly on social media platforms,” assuring that the suspects would soon be charged to Court.
