Thousands of traders at the popular Ogbeogonogo Market in Asaba, Delta State who deposited their funds with the MMM Ponzi scheme; are currently under fear of the unknown.
At the ever busy market Wednesday, many of the traders who used to bubble in the beehive of business activities, especially ahead of the Christmas/New Year celebrations were seen wearing long faces and gnashing their teeth in apprehensive of what might be the fate of the MMM and its numerous subscribers.
Only a few days about three million Nigerians who participated in the scheme were jolted when the scheme freeze its accounts, marking it impossible for members to withdraw their money.
Its founder, Sergy Maruodi explained that the reason for the measure was to ensure the sustainability of the scheme in the New Year (2017) and make it better.
But the founder’s statement has thrown the traders into confusion as many of them were seen at various business centers logging into the website to ascertain the veracity of the statements.
Some of the traders like Madam Elizabeth Nwandu who spoke to Onnlive.com, said: “I have invested almost N500, 000, I can’t get my money in this December, I’m finished.”
Apart from the traders who claimed to have invested millions of Naira, family members, group of individuals in Asaba and its environs, are not left out in the hue and cry of the pains meted out on them by the scheme.
Investigation revealed that some police officers/prisons, and top government officials in the state are involved, and have been having sleepless nights since the news of the alleged collapse of the scheme hit them.
Some landlords in Asaba, Ogbueshi Allanna Abel, Ogbueshi John Osuekwe described the scheme as havoc wreaked on Nigerians desperate to cushion the hash effects of the recession.
They said: “Our ancestors will not forgive the founder of MMM; he has put people in debts, some of our family members borrowed money to participate. We are afraid if the collapse will not kill people, a number of people in Asaba got involved”.
Further investigation revealed that many of the affected participants have deserted their homes in Asaba and it environs because they allegedly took loans to participate in the scheme and their creditors are asking for refunds of their money.
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