A Nigerian nurse based in Britain, Mrs. Josephine Ewere, has alleged multi-million naira fraud by MBBOV Multi-Purpose Co-Operative Society, the company’s Managing Director, Mrs. Valerie Ayodele, and other Principal Officers.

In a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Josephine Ewereo complained of how Mrs. Valerie Ayodele and MBBOV Multi-Purpose Co-Operative Society tricked her to invest a total of £30,800 in what turned out to be a Ponzi scheme. The naira equivalent was about N16,878,400 using the official Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) exchange rate of N548 to a Pound Sterling as at 9th of March 2022 when the petition was filed.

Established in 2017, MBBOV Multi-Purpose Co-Operative Society has its headquarters in Effurun, Warri, Delta State, and 18 branches across Nigeria. The company claims to be out to empower customers with various loan and investment schemes, but the claims are false, according to Mrs. Josephine Ewere in the petition by her lawyer Chidi E. Ike of Chidi Ike & Associates, submitted to the EFCC Zonal Office, Benin City, Edo State.

The petition, a copy of which was sighted by News Express, reads:

“COMPLAINT AGAINST MRS VALERIE AYODELE AND THE PRINCIPAL OFFICERS OF MBBOV MULTI-PURPOSE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY USING THE PLATFORM OF THE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY TO COMMIT FINANCIAL CRIMES DEFRUADING MRS JOSEPHINE EWERE OF £30,800 (THIRTY THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED POUNDS)

“We write this complaint as solicitors to and on behalf of Mrs Josephine Ewere.

“Our Client’s complaint is that Mrs Valerie Ayodele as C.E.O/Managing Director and the Principal officers of MBBOV Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society of No 177, Jakpa Road, Opposite Tea petrol station Effurun Warri, Delta State, used the platform of the Co-operative Society to defrud our Client Mrs Josephine Ewere of a total sum of £30,800(Thirty Thousand, Eight Hundred Pounds), using an investment Agreement with our Client as a smokescreen. Our Client on the 02/06/2021 invested with Mrs Valerie Ayodele and MBBOV Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society the sum of £15,000 (Fifteen Thousand Pounds) to be paid the monthly sum of £1,050 (One Thousand and Fifty Pounds) for 6 months amounting to £21,300 (Twenty-one Thousand Three Hundred Pounds).

“Again, our Client on another package with the aforesaid Mrs Valerie Ayodele and her MBBOV Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society invested the sum of £10,000 (Ten Thousand Pounds) to be paid a monthly return of 800 (Eight Hundred Pounds) for 3 months as returns on investment amounting to £12,400 (Twelve Thousand, Four Hundred Pounds).

“Currently, the duration for the smokescreen “investment” has long elapsed and Mrs Valerie and MBBOV Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society have refused to return our Client’s Monies they collected under false pretenses.

“As at today there is an unpaid total sum of £30,800 (Thirty Thousand Eight Hundred Pounds) due which by the CBN rate as at today 9th of March 2022 at the rate of £1 pounds of Naria@N548 is N16,878,400 (Sixteen Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy-Eight Thousand Four Hundred Naria)

“Our Client has variously demanded that Mrs Valerie Ayodele and her enterprise return her money to no avail.

“Our Client engaged us and we wrote letters of demand, and on several occasions called Mrs Valerie Ayodele to return our Client’s money with her but she failed to honour all promises she made.

“It is very clear that this is a clear case of obtaining under false pretense contrary to section 419 of the criminal code Act. This conduct of Mrs Valerie Ayodele and her MBBOV Platform also offend section 17 of the EFCC Act as the sum of £30,800 (Thirty Thousand, Eight Hundred Pounds) proceeds of which they retain are proceeds of financial crimes obtained by virtue of criminal conducts.

“We urge you, Sir, to kindly use your good offices to investigate and prosecute Mrs Valerie Ayodele and the principal officers of MBBOV Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society for this clear criminal conduct and financial crime committed.

“The Principal Officers of MBBOV Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society are;

“Mrs Valerie Ayodele – CEO/Managing Director

“Mr. Micheal Odafe – General Manager /08109264165

“Ms Kezwe Owhofasa – Secretary/ 09017217256

“Please find attached relevant documents to aid you.

“Many thanks for your prompt attention and resolution.”

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