By Yemi Akinsuyi
Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have commenced investigations of 32 suspects arrested on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 for suspected ponzi-style investment and employment scam at multiple locations in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The suspects are: 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,Anthony Fredrick, Mathew Satasi Zamani, Hassan Yakubu, Benjamin Obadiah, Stephen Joseph,Toma Peter, Samson Galadimma, Ochim Agnes and Mahmud Sufiyan.
Others are: Ephraim Emmanuel, Kenneth Okonkwo, Jeremiah Emmanuel, and Abdulmajid Barde, 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.
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.
The petitioner said he abandoned 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 of the Managing Director of the fictitious oil and gas company.
He said he 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 N900,000.00, with an initial deposit that must not be less than N150,000.00.
After the interview, the petitioner said he was given a Q-Net form to fill out, instead of a Tropicana Oil and Gas Company form, and when he questioned the change in names, he was ordered to stop asking too many questions.
“When I asked them about my accommodation, they said I must make an initial deposit before they can take me to the company lodge, 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 in 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 I and my brother started getting our senses back and we eventually left the place and found the lawyer that helped us to send the petition to EFCC”
Preliminary investigations 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.
During questioning, the coordinators claimed in their statement that they are network marketers advertising various products, including drugs, which are currently being analyzed by investigators for authenticity and regulatory compliance.
So far, some of their identified victims and the sums they were defrauded included: Abubakar Umar Favour ₦1,000,000; Tanko Kasimu ₦800,000; Abubakar Abdurahman Jimba ₦900,000; Usman Faisu Adamu ₦900,000; Korna Emmanuel ₦950,000; Yakubu Musa ₦160,000; Happiness Mathew ₦100,000; Umbugu Akolo Revelation N80,000; Hussani Aminu ₦200,000; Samuel James ₦200,000; Albert Gabriel ₦250,000; Daniel Dorathy ₦1,700,000; and Kasimu Lukman Haruna ₦850,000. 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.
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 reiterates its earlier warning to 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.
The suspects will soon be charged to court.
