Lawyer begs EFCC, AGF, others for intervention in alleged fraud

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 alleged 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 Wednesday, dated February 1, 2021, with acknowledged copies by EFCC, NFIU, AGF dated February 2, 2021, Mamah gave a breakdown of how many Nigerians, including his clients, were duped by operators of the alleged ponzi scheme, under the guise of doubling their investments, with one Omotola Adanna as the founder/CEO of myBONUS, begging the petitioned agencies for urgent intervention in recovering the money for his clients and forestalling future occurrences. 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. “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, 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.” However, as of the time of filing this report, the phone contact displayed on Kuda Microfinance Bank’s website was not connecting, while the organisation is yet to react to the email our reporter sent to the customer care unit, while some of the victims interviewed expressed optimism in EFCC’s intervention in recovering their money.