The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that many Nigerians ignored its warnings about digital trading platforms like CBEX.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, told Channels Television that the Commission had previously cautioned the public against engaging with such platforms.
He added that the EFCC had made efforts to educate citizens on the risks associated with these fraudulent schemes.
DIASPORA LENS reported that CBEX collapsed on Monday, leaving numerous Nigerians unable to access their funds.
READ MORE: CBEX: Interpol, EFCC launch probe into N1.3tn fraud
Numerous videos circulating online showed Nigerians expressing distress over losing their funds to the scheme.
The crash is said to have resulted in the loss of ₦1.3 trillion belonging to Nigerian investors.
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Oyewale said,
You’ll recall that on March 11 this year, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, had cause to instruct us to alert Nigerians about 58 Ponzi scheme companies; we came out with a list–that shows that we’re proactive and we have our hands on what is happening.
So, concerning this CBEX thing, we’re on it; it’s not that we didn’t know, and you know we’ve been alerting Nigerians about ways and means to separate themselves from this type of shenanigans.
So, before the calls came, we were working; while the calls were coming, we were working, and even after the calls, we’re still working.
We cannot lay any blame on the EFCC concerning this CBEX thing. I’m sure we know that that business venture is a Chinese digital trading company with no jurisdictional link with Nigeria; all the area offices that people are saying are in Ibadan and in some other locations are not functional offices. The entire thing is online.
And we have been warning Nigerians against criminal engagements online. So, what would you expect the EFCC to do? We have given empowerment, given enlightenment, given public awareness, and raised intelligence.
It is to the credit of the EFCC chairman that he came forward to say that there are 58 companies that Nigerians are patronising that they should no longer patronise.
So, if the commission is as proactive as that, then the rest is for the people concerned to be more vigilant and to ensure that they guard their investment in line with the information that is available.
READ MORE: DIASPORA LENS
