LAWYER PETITIONS EFCC, AGF, OTHERS OVER DEFRAUDING OF NIGERIANS IN PONZI SCHEME.

Crime Correspondent

An Abuja based legal practitioner and Managing Partner, Cosmic Legal Consult, Barrister Ifeanyi Cosmas Mamah, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) over the defrauding of unsuspecting Nigerians by fraudsters operating a fraudulent online ponzi scheme known as myBONUS, with the alleged connivance of a microfinance bank, Kuda Microfinance Bank Ltd, headquartered in Lagos.

In the petition obtained by this medium, dated February 1, 2021, with acknowledged copies by the petitioned agencies dated February 2, 2021, Mamah gave a breakdown of how many Nigerians, including his clients, were duped by operators of the ponzi scheme, under the guise of doubling their investments.

Mamah identified the perpetrators to include Michael Olusegun Ogayemi, Ramota Aramide Olaniyi, Oluwole Matthew Temitope, Emmanuel Oladimji Owoseeni, Adepoju Joshua Abiodun, Xiaoxing Wu, Muritala Opeyemi, Kuda Microfinance Bank Ltd and three others, with one Omotola Adanna as the founder/CEO, begging the petitioned agencies for urgent intervention in recovering the money for his clients and forestalling future occurrences.

The petition was titled “Unlawful Destruction or Abortion of Electronic Process Contrary to Section 9 of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) act, 2015, Computer Related Fraud Contrary to Section 14 Subsection 1 of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) act, 2015, Unauthorised Modification of Computer Networks, Data and System Interference Contrary to Section 16 Subsection 1 of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) act, 2015, Aiding, Abating and Conspiracy to Commit Offences under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, Contrary to Section 27 Subsection 1 Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) act, 2015, Conspiracy to Defraud Contrary to Section 422 of the Criminal Code”.

The petition reads: “The above subject matter refers. We are Solicitors to Nura Samaila, Chidiebere Eziekwe, Joseph Adejo Ephraim, Mr. Godwin Eze; Mrs Rosemary Ugwu, Fatai Ayoola Shodunke, Chinedu Ogunoh Francis, Blessing Odii, Salami Michael Desmond, Odueka Ngozi Roseline and Toochi Aldine Samuel (amongst other victims of myBONUS, hereinafter referred to as ‘Our Clients), and on whose instructions we write.

“Sir, it is our Client’s instructions that the natural persons, whose names appear in the above heading, together with one Omotola Adanna as the founder/CEO, constitute a syndicate behind myBONUS2U technology, popularly called and/or known as myBONUS, whose website is mybonus2u.com (hereinafter referred to as ‘the platform’). The platform is a fraudulent cashback one which, by their representations, ensured members receive cash back, while shopping online from over 700 commerce stores globally.

“This notwithstanding, investors induced to put in their monies were given assurance of certain percentage interest and withdrawal of capital on demand. This turned out to be fraud and the above persons and syndicate all hold bank accounts with Kuda Microfinance Bank Ltd (RC796975), whose head office is located at 151 Herbert Macauley Way, By Adekunle Bus Stop, Yaba, Lagos.

“Sir, the review by Blogger Presh published on January 4th, 2021 by www.friendsimpact.com.ng and titled ‘MyBonus2U Review: Is MyBonus legit or scam’ affords a good insight into the scheme.

“Our Clients, amongst other unsuspecting victims, were induced to invest in this fraudulent online platform floated by one Omotola Adanna and others, together with one expatriate, Mr. Xiaoxing Wu, and with promises to receive capital back on demand, in addition to other privileges. However, since January, 2021 the investment platform, website and software application, which is discovered to have been intentionally floated to defraud unsuspecting victims by the above persons, have been disabled, while the fraudulent beneficiaries completely disconnected from our Clients and totally lost communications.

“Consequently, Our Clients’ capitals, amongst others running into hundreds of millions of Naira, paid into the individual accounts of the above fraudsters/beneficiaries held with Kuda Mierofinance Bank Ltd and provided by myBONUS, cannot be accessed any longer. The website’s server DNS can no longer be found and myBONUS application downloaded from google playstore is no more functional since January, 2021.

“Sir, the following account numbers received money from Our Clients, amongst others, on several occasions and in connection with transactions on the fraudulent platform:

“Michael Olusegun Ogayemi: account number 2001670938, Kuda Microfinance Bank, Emmanuel Oladimeji Owoseeni: Account Number 2001377220, Kuda Microfinance Bank, Victor Olalekan Adeboboye: Account Number 2002260912, Kuda Microfinanace Bank, Olowoyeye Sunday Oluwapamilerin: Account Number 2001912513, Kuda Microfinance Bank, Amie Jessica Ndudi: Account Number 2002474700, Kuda Microfinance Bank, Oluwole Matthew Temitope: Account Number 2002263078, Kuda Microfinance Bank, Xiaoxing Wu: Account Number 2001179534, Kuda Microfinance Bank, Thompson George Ashiobi: Account Number 2002907697, Kuda Microfinance Bank, Ramota Aramide Olaniyi: Account Number 2002242936, Kuda Microfinance Bank, Adepoju Joshua Abiodun: Account Number 200574675, Kuda Microfinance Bank, Hammed Abisola Azeez: Account Number 1435261512, Access Bank Plc, Oluwatobi Rodney Gege: Account Number 1426895038; Access Bank Plc, Wu Xiaoxing: Account Number 0612653547, Guarantee Trust Bank Plc.

“Sir, annexures A1-A20 attached to this petition contain a few of the monies paid to the above account numbers on different occasions and only represent a fraction of the monies defrauded our Clients, amongst other victims, whose interests your good organisation would be enforcing in addition to sanitising Nigeria of advanced fee fraud. It is highly suspicious sir, that all the accounts, through which our Clients and many other victims remitted money to myBONUS, are held with Kuda Microfinance Bank Ltd. There are, therefore, questions to be answered by Kuda Microfinance Bank Ltd, whom we suspect collaborated in the above financial crimes.

“Sir, we appeal that your highly exalted office, being responsible, under the law, for prevention, detection and investigation of financial crimes in Nigeria, wade into these situations and bring the perpetrators or the above economic, financial crimes and cybercrimes to book, whilst recovering proceeds of the crimes from suspects. We believe in the capabilities of your good organisaton; considering your track records in

investigation and detection of financial crimes in Nigeria, using the paraphernalia of the law. This experience, sir, is a reminder that Nigeria should start taking steps to regulate internet businesses and crypto currencies, including any scheme related thereto.

“Sir, the under listed amounts constitute only a fraction of the monies defrauded our clients, amongst others, by the suspects. We shall provide your office with further details or transactions evidencing sums defrauded our clients and other investors.

“Names of our clients and amount defrauded include: Odii Blessing: 1,371,000, Fatai Ayoola Shodunke: N1,600,000, Rosemary Ugwu: N500,000, Joseph Adejo Ephraim: N300,000, Chidiebere Eziekwe: N290,000, Toochi Adline Samuel: N100,000, Eze Godwin: N112,000, Chinedu Ogunoh Francis: N 37,425, Odueka Ngozi Roseline: N30,000.26, Adedokun Ismil Femi: N1,800,000, Salami Michael Desmond: N94,237, Chidiebere Stephen Eziekwe, N600,000.

“Sir, we undertake to provide a comprehensive table of payments made by our clients, with breakdown of each in the course of investigations. More victims, who are yet to provide us with details of their transactions, are also expected to be ready with theirs presently. We anticipate your prompt response, Sir.”