Posted by By AKEEB ALARAPE, Ibadan on
Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Prince Udom Ekpoudom, weekend disclosed that a first tranche of N2.5 million has been recovered by his detectives from failed wonder banks in the state.
Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Prince Udom Ekpoudom, weekend disclosed that a first tranche of N2.5 million has been recovered by his detectives from failed wonder banks in the state.
Ekpoudom, who disclosed this while decorating four newly promoted officers of his command for their gallantry on behalf of the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, also stated that another N1.5 million would be received by his command tomorrow.
He explained that large chunk of the recovered money belong to students of the Polytechnic, Ibadan and other tertiary institutions in the state, who patronized the wonder banks before they stopped operations based on the pronouncement of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), describing their activities as illegal.
While advising other unfortunate investors in the ‘dubious banks' not to commit suicide but be patient with his men as they were ready to recover all the trapped monies, Ekpoudom said those attempting to kidnap or abduct operators of the wonder banks would only have themselves to blame.
'Victims of these wonder banks should take it easy and should not commit suicide because of these investments. Something is being done to recover the lodged monies. We know some of our young men and ladies in the universities and polytechnics have their investments in these dubious banks. Already, we have started recovering the monies. They should be patient with us," Ekpoudom stated.
Over 20 wonder banks sprang up across Ibadan metropolis early this year, asking people to invest as less as N3, 000 and collect as much as N10, 000 in return after three months of deposit.
Authorities of the CBN, however, described the operations of the wonder banks as illegal, which consequently led to their winding up, after thousands of jobless youths, undergraduates and traders have patronized the banks for their miracle wealth.
At the press briefing by the CP were representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by Messrs Yomi Balogun and Ademola Abidemi, who commended the police boss for addressing their plight.
Decorated for their gallantry performance at the ceremony were Sgt Imoh Jonah, Sgt Jonah Ngbobara, a driver, Corporal Afolayan Olaosebikan and Corporal Abegunde Monday. The sergeants were promoted to the rank of Inspectors while the Corporals became Sergeants.The four police officers were said to have burst a robbery operation around Mbutu Okhia, near Owerri and rescued the commuters on September 7, 2007 while conveying the personal effects of the CP to his home town in Akwa Ibom State.