Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
Victims of a failed forex trading scheme in Rivers state have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to mandate the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali to ensure the arrest and prosecution of Maxwell Odum over alleged fraud.
The victims made this call during a peaceful protest to express their anguish at the palace of the paramount ruler of Elekahia community in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, traditional ruler of the suspect.
Leader of the victims, Christian Agadaga, who spoke during the protest, begged the monarch to summon the alleged perpetrator, Maxwell Odum, the Chief Executive Officer of NBA Forex Trading and Capital Investment Limited, and advise him to relieve the victims of their pains.
He lamented that some of the victims have died over frustration and hardship.
He said, “Nigerians from all works of life are disgruntled, some have died out of frustration, dome are in deep pain and hospitalised because Maxwell Odum, an indigene of Elekahia community has defrauded Nigerians their billions of Naira.
“We also use this opportunity to call on Mr President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Mohammadu Buhari to shift a little focus on financial banditry, because Maxwell Wali Odum is a financial terrorist and bandits, he should be fished out, he (Odum) cannot be smarter than Nigeria.”
On his part the Chairman, Rivers Civil Society Organisations, Enefaa Georgwill, urged the monarch to rise above nepotism and engender justice as the credibility of his palace and that of the state were at stake.
“For us as Civil Society Organisations, we appreciate the fact that the paramount ruler would hear from all sides, we too that the royal Highness should live above board by not taking sides with his kinsmen and subjects, “he said.
Reacting, the Paramount Ruler, Elekahia community, Eze Anthony Akarolo, expressed surprise over the development.
He thanked the protesters for their peaceful disposition in expressing their displeasure and promised to investigate the claims and intervene accordingly.
