In a society where the voice of the poor and down trodden can not be heard that is if they have the voice at all, it becomes more hopeless and devastating when you know your enemy and still can still kill you contrary to Yoruba adage ‘that if God shows you your enemy he cannot kill you again’.
I am delighted to bring to your listening ear and willing mind ready to contribute the little he can to help the hopeless and helpless of this country. And I believe that unlike the politician who only represents their family at all level, I know our voices can be heard through this medium.
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I don’t know if anyone is in the know of the so-called wonder Banks who were clamped down sometime 2007 by the CBN and SEC, the allegation was that they were operating illegally being that they did not obtain license as fund managers or as banks. Well, let’s say that was right in a Country where the rule of law is really respected and obeyed by the leaders and laity.
Actually these people were collecting money from interested investors, these money were been used to trading forex to the best of my knowledge and interest were being paid to the depositors, there was no complain of any default. But the CBN and SEC saw the reason to truncate the hope of these helpless Nigerian who could invest as low as N5000.00 and get a reasonable interest in short time.
The companies operations were investigated by a tribunal set up on the instruction of SEC and the tribunal recommended that, the companies should close down their operations and that the CBN and SEC should ensure the return of the money of verified depositors
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Here is the extract of the recommendation.
Tribunal orders 30 ‘wonder banks’ to close shop
By ISAAC ANUMIHE, Abuja
Monday, July 14, 2008
Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST) has ordered about 30 banks masquerading as fund managers across the country to close down and stop operating and/or withdrawing money from their accounts in all banks and companies in Nigeria.
The order came following the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) prayer to close down and stop the companies popularly known as ‘wonder banks’ from operating as fund managers without SEC’s authorization.
According to a statement by IST, SEC had commenced the suit in November 2007 with complaints that the ‘wonder banks’ solicited, advertised and invited members of the public to deposit funds with a promise of paying as much as 500 per cent returns within one operational week, arguing that the deposit of money with them by the public for a fixed period and bearing interest was illegal and so sought an order of the tribunal to stop them from continuing to do business as fund managers, among other reliefs.
On the strength of the submissions, therefore, the tribunal had earlier in December 2007 issued an interim order, freezing the accounts of the companies pending the determination of the case.
But delivering final judgment in the matter last week, the tribunal authorized SEC to take custody of the investors’ funds found to be in possession of the 30 companies and their banks for the benefit of the investors.
Also, the tribunal ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to determine the status of all the investors’ funds kept in the custody of the respondent 17 banks namely – Access Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Equatorial Trust Bank Plc, First Bank Plc, FirstInland Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, IBTC Chartered Bank Plc, Kakawa Discount House Ltd, Oceanic Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc, Spring Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa, Unity Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Intercontinental Bank Plc.
Not only that, it also ordered SEC to withdraw and release to all confirmed investors the said funds found in the possession of the banks.
The affected ‘wonder banks’, the statement stated, include: All Green Investments Nigeria Limited, Andrew O. Irikefe (doing business in the name and style of Art Masters & Co.), Ndego Onyemaechi Fidelis (doing business in the name and style of Casheed Venture), Cyber International Limited, Fortune Access Interlinks Network Ltd, Goldpower Unique Services Ltd and Gorutrans Nig. Company Ltd.
Others are Interglobal Investment Ltd, Money Field Ltd, New Freedom Diversified Investment Ltd, Open Gate Multipurpose Investors Ltd, Orion Express Global Services Ltd, Pennywise Investment Ltd, Pennywise Royal Heritage Ltd, Positive Move International Nig. Ltd, Precious Golden Profile Ltd, Real & Cool Wealth International Ltd, Shola Olarewaju Ayinke (doing business in the name and style of Sefteg Nig.Co.), Silvertrust Global Investment Ltd, Successpoint Intercontinental Inv. Ltd, Torid Investment Ltd, Treasured Fund and Assets Ltd, Vikel Petroleum Ltd, Wealth Concept Global Ltd, and Wealthgate Multibiz International Ltd.
Also involved are Wealth Interlink Agency Ltd, Wealth Solution Ltd, Wealth Transfer and Logistic Ltd, Wilson O. Wilson (doing business in the name and style of Wilamas Ventures) and Wisdom Investments Nigeria ltd.
Similarly, out of the 37 wonder banks taken to the tribunal, the cases against Multimedia Enhance Lynk Ltd, Proven Insight Consultants Ltd and Kakawa Discount House Ltd were dismissed for want of evidence and the earlier interim order freezing their bank accounts were also vacated forthwith.
Several appeals were made to the Prof. Charles Soludo the immediate past CBN Governor as to the release of the money to no avail. The only offence these Nigerian committed in a Country where the helpless and hopeless work tirelessly to make both ends meet is that they invested their monies for profits. How could the voices of these Nigerian be heard having seen the rot of the Bank sector under the watchful eyes of Prof.Charles Soludo? There is need for urgent publicity of this before Prof.Charles Soludo use the money recovered from these companies to actualize his dream as Governor of Anambra State. Let the new oratory Governor of CBN Alh. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi forgives the sins of these innocent Nigerian and releases this money; he should not cover up the ill and evil perpetrated by his predecessor. God bless Nigeria.
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