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How Nigerians lost N4.8 trillion on Ponzi since 2016 – Alaje
As panic erupts across Nigeria following the sudden crash of CBEX, a digital investment platform that promised to double investors’ funds within a month, Chief Economist at SPM Professionals, Paul Alaje has emphasised the need for investment education, highlighting that Nigerians have lost an estimated ₦4.8 trillion to pyramid scams since the collapse of MMM in 2016.
Alaje, in an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, described CBEX as the latest in a disturbing trend of fraudulent schemes exploiting economic hardship and financial desperation.
“Since MMM in 2016, Nigerians have lost approximately 4.8trn to pyramid scam. Pyramid scam is a scheme designed to rip you off of funds. It is only a pyramid scam that promises more interest than the IMF and World Bank put together in a month and sometimes in a week.”
The CBEX platform, which reportedly offered users 100% returns on investments, began experiencing technical issues over the weekend. By Monday, users were locked out of their accounts entirely and in the absence of any official communication from the company, panic quickly escalated into chaos.
In Ibadan, enraged investors stormed a CBEX office, carting away items such as chairs, air-conditioners, and even a solar panel. Online, heart-wrenching videos of victims, some in tears, flooded social media, with many pleading for answers and the return of their hard-earned money.
Alaje stressed the importance of due diligence before participating in any investment opportunity.
“Before you invest in any scheme, apart from the Corporate Affairs Commission certificate they would show you, ask them for a Securities and Exchange Commission license. If they don’t have that, they must have a Central Bank license. And make sure you verify,” he advised.
He warned that unrealistic promises of high returns are a red flag. He said “In this economy, when the promises are too good and excellent to be real, please have a second thought.”
Alaje also pointed out that the CBEX saga creates broader risks for legitimate investment firms. “This can cause industry risk for genuine people who are doing the right thing,” he said. “From history, I doubt everyone will get their money back, but I trust that the EFCC will do its best.”
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had earlier confirmed that CBEX is not registered with the agency. Emomotimi Agama, the SEC’s Director-General, said on Arise Xchange that any unregistered investment scheme is considered illegal under Nigerian law.
“For us at the SEC, our primary responsibility is investor protection, and investor protection stems out of registration and regulation,” he said.
“When a scheme is not registered with the SEC, it becomes illegal; and it is important that whoever is interested in investing in such a scheme must ask the question, Are you registered with the SEC?
“If that is not the case, then it is automatically stated and known that such is an illegal activity and will not be condoned even by the SEC.”
Agama added that the commission had no prior knowledge of CBEX’s operations because no formal complaints were filed before its collapse—a pattern consistent with other fraudulent platforms. “Most people try to keep it away from the regulator, only involving a close circle of friends,” he said.
The economist however stated his belief that despite the chaos, those behind CBEX can still be traced. “I don’t think the identity of those that own CBEX can disappear anywhere. Financial transactions were involved. Which accounts were paid to.
“We have smart security agencies in charge of investigations. I know that they can do it if they want to do it. That business must have been registered with corporate affairs commission. We can do CAC search and get the names and all,” he said.
He urged victims to assist in ongoing investigations by reporting details of their transactions.
“People need to come out to report officially and also help agencies of government in this regard to mention who they paid and how the payment was made.”
Looking ahead, Alaje called on government agencies to take proactive steps in financial education.
“You need to increase public awareness on investment risks,” he said. “You can engage and put adverts on credible organisations so that young people and old are listening across the board. Most importantly, you need to translate it into other major languages like pidgin English for people to know.”
“He is running in contempt of the court. Justice Lifu should be arrested because he is acting in contempt of the court which is a criminal act,” were the exact words with which the African Democratic Congress (ADC), demonstrated its angst over the court ruling on Monday, ordering its de-registration as a political party in Nigeria.
A furious Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the party, told his host while appearing as a guest on Monday’s edition of Politics Today, a public affairs programme on Channels Television that the judge of the Abuja Federal High Court who gave the order was actually playing with fire because of the consequences.
Directly accusing him of playing the script of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to ensure that President Bola Tinubu emerged the sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election, the party spokesman, was emphatic that the plan would not work, as head or tail, ADC must be on the ballot in all the elections.
Hear him: “There is a Court of Appeal order saying don’t hear this case until October 27. So, on what basis? You can’t place something on nothing. The Court of Appeal said don’t act on this until I hear it on October 27. So, on what basis did he deliver the judgement
“So, for us in the African Democratic Congress, what we’re convinced and they know is what they have done has no leg to stand on legally. What they want to do is to create doubts in the minds of the people that this ADC has too many legal cases, can we actually run on this? And to distract us. But we’re not distracted.
“We’re very clear. It was in spite of all they have done since ADC came on board that we ran one of the best and one of the most comprehensive direct primaries in the history of democracy in Nigeria. So, we are strong enough to withstand this. And that’s why I’m saying that we are going to contest in 2027. We’re ADC. We don’t buckle before dictatorship.”
Stressing on the implication of the judgement, which also affected Accord Party (AP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) for allegedly failing to meet constitutional and electoral performance requirements, following a suit by the National Forum of Former Legislators, he said it portended grave danger.
He added: “We are not surprised. We know that the Nigerian people believe that there is a problem with the judiciary, but what we did not expect is the level of judicial rascality that was demonstrated today.
“What we are saying is that we reject it in its totality, and we are saying that the people behind this are playing with fire. Hundreds, if not thousands, have obtained nomination forms and contested elections and emerged as candidates on the platform of the ADC.”
Peter Obi, candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), in the 2027 presidential election, is peeved at the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordering the de-registration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying the move is a heavy blow and dangerous to Nigeria’s democracy.
Justice Peter Lifu, who made the order, based on an action brought by National Forum of Former Legislators, agreed that the parties, including Accord Party (AP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), failed to meet the requirement for continued existence in Nigeria.
But Obi, who left the ADC coalition to join the NDC, incidentally, based on what he explained resulted from the multiple court cases hanging on its neck, expressed his disenchantment, in a statement by the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), on Monday.
Signed by Ibrahim Umar, its spokesman, the group quoted the former Governor of Anambra State as decrying the growing damage to the nation’s sacred institutions on the altar of politics.
Stressing that the rise of nations depended on stronger institutions devoid of political influences, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, wrote on his X platform: “When the controversy surrounding the removal of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, unfolded, I expressed a concern to a friend: that the greatest damage might not be immediate, but the message it sends about the sanctity and independence of our institutions to the world.
“Strong economies are built on trust. Investors can manage security risks, policy risks, and even market risks. What they fear most is uncertainty in the rule of law and a judiciary that is perceived to be vulnerable to political pressure.
“Today, many Nigerians have lost confidence in systems that should protect them. Businesses increasingly request that their contracts be governed by foreign jurisdictions because they have greater confidence in those institutions than in our own. That should concern every patriot.
“We must never sacrifice our sacred institutions on the altar of politics. Nations rise when institutions are stronger than individuals. The Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of the ADC and other political parties is just one of those activities that further reduces the common man’s trust in our legal systems. It should be reversed.
“I pledge that we will restore the dignity, independence, and integrity of the judiciary. The common man must have a voice. The business community must be protected from legal uncertainty and intimidation. Justice must be impartial, accessible, and respected by all. To our judges, legal luminaries, senior advocates, and lawyers: this is your moment. Rise, defend the rule of law, take back your country! A new Nigeria is POssible.”
Not even Lamine Yamal’s second half introduction could help Spain break through the defence of debutants, Cape Verde, in their first ever meeting, as the ongoing World Cup event produced another one of the stunning results on Monday.
Yamal, the Barcelona superstar just recovering from a near two-month hamstring injury, was brought into the game in the second half to zest up the one-time world champion, but failed to break down the Cape Verde’s dogged defence.
Spain’s in the game played in Atlanta, one of the cities hosting the three-nation Mundial, displayed the same dismal outing, which saw them offering far less than the quality, which saw them lifting the trophy for the first time in 2010.
The European champions, which have not won a knockout game ever since, failed to dominate the African side, replicating their less than impressing outings and their eventual exit in 2018 and 2022 editions, even with the claims of coach Luis de la Fuente that the squad was the best in the competition, Spain were considered among the pre-tournament.
Neither Yamal nor Nico Williams, who also was hit by an injury-disrupted season at Athletic Bilbao and was not introduced until the 87th minute, were able to rise to the occasion against the 500,000 people African side, ranked 67 in the world, which is making their debut on the global stage.
In stark contrast to the searing temperatures faced by some other sides, Atlanta’s state-of-the-art air conditioned stadium meant there was no excuses for the slow tempo of Spain’s build-up.
Indeed the mid-half hydration break was met by boos with fans frustrated at the break in play despite the cool conditions.
The only serious move from the European champions only came at the sixth minute to half-time, when Marc Cucurella, fresh for sealing his move from Chelsea to Real Madrid, sent over a teasing cross that Ferran Torres turned onto the crossbar and Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha got back on his feet to turn Mikel Oyarzabal’s looping header over the bar.
Even after the break, the Blue Sharks, were also able to hold back from the onslaught as they did in the first half, where Vozinho, managed to make another superlative save against Aymeric Laporte’s header just before half-time.
Despite the excitement from the crowd after he was introduced, Yamal, billed as one of the stars of the tournament, failed to create any magic with his first touch being the set-up of a decent opening for fellow substitute Mikel Merino which was too close to Vozinha.
In fact, Cabo Verde billed to take on Uruguay in Miami, nearly snatched a famous victory in the final minute of the 90 when Dani Borges planted a header too close to Unai Simon, who saved the occasion, to prevent the former world champions, billed to face Saudi Arabia in Atlanta on Sunday from humiliation.
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