Protesters gathered on Sunday at Christ Embassy Church located on Peter Odili Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State over alleged fraud perpetuated by a forex firm, MBA Trading and Capital Investment Limited.
Over 50 protesters called on the leadership of the church to take action.
A member of the church Maxwell Odum, the chairman/CEO of the company, was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged N213bn fraud in 2021, following a petition it received from the victims.
The protesters, under the aegis of ‘victims of MBA forex fraud’ gathered at the road leading to the church with placards chanting songs to drive home their demands, saying, ‘Maxwell Odum pay us our money.’
However, a mild drama occurred while they marched towards the church as a team of policemen stopped them from going further, but irked by their presence, the protesters raised their voices and continued singing.
Speaking to newsmen, the leader of the protest, Christian Agadaga, said they were in the church to register their grievances because the failed firm’s boss, Odum was a member of the Christ Embassy.
Agadaga said, “Victims of the MBA forex fraud have assembled at Christ Embassy Church at Odili Road in Port Harcourt today to register our displeasure and to say how we feel.
“Our pain, agony, and our calamities are because of just one man, Odum, who defrauded Nigerians who invested in his company to the tune of N213 billion.
“He promised to pay the returns on our investment but today, he is nowhere to be found,” he alleged.
Continuing, Agadaga said, “While we were trying to recover from the shock for over two years now, recently, the EFCC has declared three persons wanted. From our findings, these persons are all members and workers of this church, Christ Embassy.
“We have come here to let the leadership of the church know our pains. We want to use this opportunity to appeal to the founder of this church, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, a man we have seen for some time now, who doesn’t tolerate misconduct.
“For him (Oyakhilome) to have, some days ago, suspended his relation from all church activities over an action he didn’t find pleasing, shows the kind of person he is.
“We are appealing to him to immediately reveal the hiding places of these persons, declare wanted those that are members and part of his church to the EFCC.”
