Angry investors of the now crashed MBA trading and capital investment have protested to the Port Harcourt zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over the withholding of their funds running into billions by the company.
The embattled company crashed in November 2020 after what sources termed “insolvency of the business model” and financial irresponsibility of the management.
The company founded by Maxwell Odum left thousands of investors penniless.
It had promised to refund investors their capital, although sources say it is a time-buying gimmick.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has said,125,397 investors deposited a total of N171,128,219,041.00, into accounts belonging to MBA Trading and Capital Investment Limited.
The scheme which promised a 15 per cent return on investment to depositors, crashed in November, leaving its investors hanging with promises of return of deposited capital.
The apex bank in a legal suit with Number FHC/PH/MIsC/35/2021, before the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on the 10th of February, filed an exparte motion seeking an order of the court to stop all debit transactions from MBA accounts.
The court on the 11th of February ordered that accounts maintained in any bank in Nigeria by the company be forthwith frozen for a period of time sufficient for the Central Bank of Nigeria to conclude the ongoing investigation and inquiry into the affairs of the Company.
The accounts include 39 Naira bank accounts domiciled in Access Bank, EcoBank, FCMB, GTB, Suntrust, Stanbic IBTC, Sterling Bank, UBA, Union Bank, Unity Bank and Zenith Bank.
Others are 8 dollar accounts domiciled in FCMB, Ecobank, Stanbic IBTC, UBA and Sterling Bank.
According to a court document the company has a total of 14 branches which include Aba with 3,159 investors and deposits of N3,721, 930,689; Abuja with 10, 992 investors and deposits of N20, 508, 696,314; Allen Lagos with 10,164 investors and deposits of N13, 068, 196, 850; Asaba with 3,406 investors and deposits of N4,177,475,745; Benin with 6,170 investors and deposits of N7,016,573,157, Calabar with N2,839 investors and deposits of N3,377,292,827 and Eliozu Port Harcourt branch with 30, 138 investors and deposits of N41, 956,413,079.
Others are Enugu with 2,560 investors and deposits of N6, 972, 471, 039; Lekki with8,826 and deposits of N14, 224,187,177; Owerri 1 with 2, 545 and deposits of N2, 908,274,471; Owerri 2 with 5,276 investors and deposits of N6,752,547,834; Uyo with 2,948 investors and deposits of N4,274,056,414; Warri with 7, 213 investors and deposits of N9,766,552,367 and Port Harcourt waterlines branch with 29,151 investors and deposits of N32,403,449,045.
According to the CBN, investors from Port Harcourt made up 43.45 per cent of the total investors.
Part of the allegations against MBA which founded by Maxwell Odum is that he mismanaged investor’s funds by paying billions of naira to Pastor Chris’ Christ Embassy as a member and has continued to win the trophy as number one Top Partner Award which enables him receive Pastor Chris’ Presidential handshake.
Reacting to the court order, MBA informed its investors that it will be constrained to refrain from any further actions or statements that may affect or influence the ongoing investigation as the matter is now subjudice as it is before the court.
“It said “We have gathered that the actions of the Central Bank of Nigeria are well within the confines of their statutory obligations and was instigated by some investors against our earlier advise.
“These disruptions have interfered with our plans and incapacitated the steps we have initiated towards the realization of the repayment
of capital investments.
“Flowing from the above, we may not be able to continue to comment on any matter relating to our operations pending the determination of the investigation initiate by the Central Bank of Nigeria”.
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