On Wednesday, April 30, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared one foreign national, Elie Bitar wanted for his alleged involvement in a cryptocurrency fraud linked to the online trading platform, Crypto Bridge Exchange.
Legit.ng recall that EFCC declared 8 CBEX promoters wanted over alleged involvement in a fraudulent investment scheme valued at over $1 billion.
Read also
“How I paid N2.9m under duress despite providing evidence to EFCC,” Victim speaks, video trends
The anti-graft agency released information about their addresses and photos.
According to an official bulletin issued by the Commission, on Wednesday, Bitar, 41, is wanted for a suspected fraudulent scheme carried out via CBEX, which has reportedly defrauded multiple unsuspecting investors across Nigeria.
“The public is hereby notified that ELIE BITAR, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for fraud allegedly perpetrated on an online trading platform called Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX),” the EFCC stated.
The EFCC also urged anyone with useful information regarding Bitar’s whereabouts to contact any of its zonal offices in Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt, or Abuja.
The public can also reach the commission via the phone number 08093322644 or email at info@efcc.gov.ng.
Head of media and publicity at the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, signed the wanted notice, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to tracking down individuals exploiting Nigerians through financial fraud schemes.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that one of the wanted Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) promoters, Adefowora Abiodun Olaonipekun, has surrendered himself to the EFCC.
Adefowora, accompanied by his lawyers, turned himself in at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Monday, April 28, 2025.
Counsel to the CBEX promoter, Babatunde Busari, explained the reason his client decided to submit himself to the EFCC.
CBEX scam: EFCC, SEC take action against Ponzi schemes
Legit.ng also reported that EFCC said CBEX investors were going to get their money back.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it would commence investigation as to where the operators were and hunt them down.
The two federal government agencies vowed to hunt down operators of Ponzi schemes across the country.
