A self-acclaimed investment guru, Mr Dominic Ngene Joshua, is currently working hard to prove his innocence in the alleged N2 billion fraud.
He has been detained by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police in Lagos and is helping detectives with vital information that could help solve the mystery.
Mr Joshua, who is the MD/CEO of Brisk Capital Limited, was accused of diverting investors’ funds worth over N2 billion.
Several investors wrote petitions to the police, seeking assistance in retrieving their funds and this led to his arrest, according to a statement issued by the SFU.
It was disclosed that the 21-year-old native of Ebonyi State operates from Uyo, the Akwa-Ibom State capital and lures victims on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn as well as via newspaper publications, where he claims to be a financial investor of repute that manages funds for individuals and companies.
Victims were conned to invest in Bitcoin, forex trading, real estate and oil and gas with a promise of prompt and accurate 60 per cent Return on Investment (ROI) per month on every sum invested, plus a guarantee of the invested principal.
The funds, which belonged to over 500 investors, were allegedly diverted to sponsor extravagant lifestyle, parties, exotic cars, luxury watches, real estates in Abuja, Lagos and Port-Harcourt.
According to the SFU, the suspect confessed to the crime but pleaded to be given time to return the monies.
Some of the properties/items purchased with the diverted funds have been recovered as exhibits while the suspects will be charged to the Federal High Court as soon as the strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) is called off.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the unit, Mr Anderson Bankole, advised the public to be wary of investment/portfolio managers that suspiciously promised very high returns.
He offers the services of the unit to use the existing synergy between the unit and relevant regulatory bodies, to provide credible information to genuine prospective investors who approach the unit for background checks.