Facebook influencer vanishes with investor’s N1.85m in food investment scheme

Facebook influencer vanishes with investor’s N1.85m in food investment scheme

Opeyemi Afeez (not real name), a retired Nigerian principal based in the United States, has accused Shade Olugbemi, a Facebook influencer, of defrauding her of N1.85 million.

Afeez recounted that in 2020, shortly after her retirement, she began searching for legitimate investment opportunities. During this search, she came across Olugbemi’s offering —Teeshafo Foods.

According to Afeez, what Olugbemi presented appeared as a unique investment model that diverged from the prevalent unsustainable investment practices she used to know. This distinction piqued Afeez’s interest and led her to consider investing with Olugbemi.

Afeez told FIJ that it seemed those who invested with Olugbemi received payments after some time. Intrigued by this, Afeez delved deeper to understand the mechanics of Olugbemi’s investment model.

After conversing with Olugbemi, Afeez learned that she could anticipate a 10 percent return on her investments. Given that her investments were directed towards agricultural products, Afeez said she became convinced and subsequently invested her funds.

Afeez said she entrusted N1.85 million to Olugbemi’s agricultural products, between September and December 2020, expecting a 10 percent Return on Investment (RoI), but the anticipated returns never materialised.

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“In August 2021, few weeks to the maturation of my investments, Olugbemi began to have issues. She began to tell me stories. All the while, she told me to be assured and that my money would not be lost,” Afeez told FIJ.

Afeez noted that Olugbemi reassured her that, even in a worst-case scenario, she might lose her RoI but not her invested capital.

“I remained patient because she maintained communication. At one point, she requested documentation of my investments, and I promptly complied. She established a timeline, but she failed to honour her commitment. By October 2021, all communication from her ceased,” Afeez recounted.

“She vanished from online platforms, and my attempts to contact her proved futile. Although I spotted her on Facebook five weeks ago identifying herself as an influencer, she is no longer accessible.”

FIJ attempted to hear from Olugbemi, but her contact details were unresponsive. As at the time of publication, she had not responded to a text message sent to her.

Facebook influencer vanishes with investor’s N1.85m in food investment scheme