ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Atlas Initiative Scheme

Screenshot taken from a YouTube video showing Atlas Initiative Scheme logo (PHOTO CREDIT: YouTube)

Hundreds of Ekiti women cry for help as firm ‘absconds’ with their money

The women say the firm organised a seminar for them to convince them to invest.

byAdejumo Kabir
December 16, 2020
2 min read

Hundreds of women in Ekiti State have accused a controversial firm, “Atlas Initiative Scheme,’ of absconding with their money.

The company, according to the victims, claimed to have its office at Adamolekun Estate, Adebayo Road, opposite Takeaway Fast Food in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

Narrating their travails in a video posted on social media on Monday, the victims said they gave cash to the representatives of the Atlas Initiative Scheme after organising a seminar for them in the community.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the company promised to lend out N100,000 to traders who invest with N16,000 and also give out N200,000 to those that invest with N32,000.

This newspaper also gathered that 12 members of a cooperative association in the community also paid N250,000 each.

According to victims, they made payments to the company on Friday, November 27, with the promise to get their respective loan on December 1 but on getting to the office of the company, it was locked.

The two telephone numbers given to the traders, 07038689142 and 08088754581 have since been switched off.

One of the victims, Toyin Kazeem, called on Nigerians to help them get justice so as not to lose their life savings.

“They (Atlas Initiative Scheme) promised to lend us N100,000 each and to be qualified for that, they collected N16,000 from us each. Anyone who planned getting N200,000 paid the company N32,000.”

RelatedNews

Despite oil price rally, Nigeria’s foreign reserves shed $1.19bn

INEC fixes March 20 for Ekiti by-election

Kagara Abduction: Kidnappers demand ransom from victims’ parents

Akeredolu demands state police as he takes oath of office for second term

“Since Saturday (November 28), we have been calling their numbers but not connecting and we came to their office but under lock. They have absconded”, she said. “We paid them the money on a Friday and they promised to start disbursing the loans on December 1.”

Asked how they heard about the company, Mrs Kazeem simply said “a seminar was organised for them at AP Hall. We urged people to help us and have mercy on us by locating these people.”

The video shows dozens of women in front of the company’s office saying that over 300 traders paid to Atlas Initiative Scheme.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

Some women echoed that “they collected N250,000 from our group.” Explaining further, a trader, who claimed to be a widow, said 10 persons were duped N16,000 each in her group.

“We expressed our fears to them but they assured us that they are not scammers. I explained to them that I am a widow and was working to feed my children. They promised to start paying on December 1 but they have disappeared.”

About Atlas Initiative Scheme

PREMIUM TIMES visited the website (http://atlasinitiativeschemes.simplesite.com) of the organisation and our correspondent discovered a lot of discrepancies.

“Atlas Initiative Scheme is established to Actively Raise Industrious and Successful Entrepreneurs by providing available, attractive, accessible and affordable financial products and services. The bank is poised to positively impact the critical mass in the informal, formal and public sectors of the Nigerian economy,” information on the website reads.

But our correspondent discovered that the initiative did not have a date of establishment. This newspaper also discovered that the organisation did not have information with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

The name of the team members are Orelusi Damilola Ojo (Chairman), Agunbiajo Mustapha (Director of Administration) and Gladys Ofiare (Human Resources Management).

ADVERTISEMENT

Meanwhile, they all have no digital footprints as a search for their names produced no tangible results.

Police react

When contacted, the Ekiti State police spokesperson, Sunday Abutu, told PREMIUM TIMES that the affected women are yet to report to the police.

“We are not award of the fraud. The affected women should visit their nearest police station and make necessary reports.”

He told our correspondent that the police will investigate upon the report of the matter.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (0)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Nigeria-focused energy firm closes $8.5 million investment round

Next Post

Katsina Students Abduction: PDP accuses Buhari, APC of insensitivity

Adejumo Kabir

Adejumo Kabir

More News

Ekiti state on map. [Photo credit: Wikipedia]

INEC fixes March 20 for Ekiti by-election

February 24, 2021
Kayode Fayemi [PHOTO CREDIT: kfayemi.com/]

2023: Ekiti monarchs urge Fayemi to join race

February 24, 2021
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa were sworn-in as Governor & Deputy Governor of Ondo State [PHOTO CREDIT: @OndoAPC]

Akeredolu demands state police as he takes oath of office for second term

February 24, 2021
Akin Abayomi, Commissioner for Health and other officials inspecting General Hospitals earmarked for renovation.

Lagos govt shuts 16 illegal pharmacies

February 24, 2021
Barr. Dele Farotimi

Lagos lawyer, Farotimi, raises alarm over assassination threat

February 24, 2021
Court symbol used to illustrate the story.

Mechanic in court for allegedly knocking out customer’s tooth

February 24, 2021
Next Post
Government secondary school, Kankara

Katsina Students Abduction: PDP accuses Buhari, APC of insensitivity

UN headquarters (UN) [Photo: Google.com]

UN ‘gravely concerned’ for safety of refugees in Niger, following Boko Haram attack

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


NITDA Ad





Glo Ad

Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,623,791 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert

Zenith Advert
ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.