300 Residents cry for help as Firm reportedly absconds with their money in Ekiti
Company logoThree hundred residents of Ekiti State have accused a firm, named “Atlas Initiative Scheme,’ of absconding with their money.
According to the victims, the company claimed to have its office at Adamolekun Estate, Adebayo Road, opposite Takeaway Fast Food in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital.
VAM News' correspondent visited the address of the firm but discovered that the office has been locked up and shut for business activities.
All effort to speak with the people at the location proved abortive as they refused to give details of the owner of the Atlas office whereabout.
Narrating their travails in a video posted on social media on Monday, the victims stated that they gave cash (as investment) to the representatives of the Atlas Initiative Scheme after a seminar organised by the firm in the community.
It was learnt that the company promised to lend out N100,000 to traders who invest with N16,000 and also give out N200,000 to those that invest with N32,000.
This newspaper also gathered that 12 members of a cooperative association in the community also paid N250,000 each.
Some victims said, they made payments to the company on Friday, November 27, with the promise to get their respective loan on December 1 but on getting to the office of the company, it was locked.
On confirming the two telephone numbers given to the traders, 07038689142 and 08088754581 have since been switched off.
One of the victims, Toyin Kazeem, called on Nigerians to help them get justice so as not to lose their life savings.
“They (Atlas Initiative Scheme) promised to lend us N100,000 each and to be qualified for that, they collected N16,000 from us each. Anyone who planned getting N200,000 paid the company N32,000.”
“Since Saturday (November 28), we have been calling their numbers but not connecting and we came to their office but under lock. They have absconded”, she said. “We paid them the money on a Friday and they promised to start disbursing the loans on December 1.”
Asked how they heard about the company, Mrs Kazeem simply said “a seminar was organised for them at AP Hall. We urged people to help us and have mercy on us by locating these people.”
According to report obtained from the video, it shows dozens of women in front of the company’s office saying that over 300 traders pai to Atlas Initiative Scheme.
Some women echoed that “they collected N250,000 from our group.” Explaining further, a trader, who claimed to be a widow, said 10 persons were duped N16,000 each in her group.
“We expressed our fears to them but they assured us that they are not scammers. I explained to them that I am a widow and was working to feed my children. They promised to start paying on December 1 but they have disappeared.”
Revelation about Atlas Initiative Scheme
The said firm launched an official website with the url; (http://atlasinitiativeschemes.simplesite.com), on which this report discovered a lot of disparities and unprofessional activities.
The company, “Atlas Initiative Scheme is established to Actively Raise Industrious and Successful Entrepreneurs by providing available, attractive, accessible and affordable financial products and services.
The bank is poised to positively impact the critical mass in the informal, formal and public sectors of the Nigerian economy,” information on the website reads.
It was noted that, the initiative did not have a date of establishment.
Also, the organisation did not have information with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).,
Moreover, their representatives have no digital footprints as a search for their names produced no tangible results.
The name of the team members are Orelusi Damilola Ojo (Chairman), Agunbiajo Mustapha (Director of Administration) and Gladys Ofiare (Human Resources Manager).
While reaching out to the CPS to the Ekiti state governor to know the government's side of the story, In his response, the Chief Press Secretary told our Correspondent to please talk to the Police Command for further details.
Police react
When contacted, the Ekiti State police spokesperson, Sunday Abutu, told Reporter that the affected women are yet to report to the police.
“We are not aware of the fraud. The affected women should visit their nearest police station and make necessary reports.”
He said the police will investigate upon the report of the matter.
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