A woman claiming to have ties with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, identified as Titilayo Mary Eboh, has been accused of defrauding several Bureau D
A woman claiming to have ties with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, identified as Titilayo Mary Eboh, has been accused of defrauding several Bureau De Change, BDC operators of more than N9 billion.
Eboh, who operates a Non-Governmental Organics named Blessed Hope Foundation, allegedly uses the foundation to mask her fraudulent activities and mislead her victims.
One of her victims who spoke under the condition of anonymity said that she was personally defrauded of N306,300,000 by Eboh.
The victim explained that between April and August 2024, Eboh collected large sums from various individuals and business owners, promising to provide foreign currency in exchange for their naira deposits.
However, she failed to deliver on her promises.
Eboh has been prosecuted multiple times by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC since 2018 and was listed among the EFCC’s wanted persons under the name Titilayo Mary Kayode in March 2015.
Despite several legal actions between 2019 and 2023, Eboh continued her fraudulent schemes, targeting new victims.
The victim disclosed that Eboh’s alleged deceitful actions have financially crippled a group of businessmen, many of whom have lost significant investments.
The impact of the fraud has been devastating for the victim, who revealed that she lost her pregnancy while attempting to recover the funds and even contemplated suicide due to the emotional toll.
The victim reported that Eboh was to do four transactions: $80,000, $60,000, $50,000, and $20,000. However, she was only able to deliver $50,000 and $20,000, leaving an outstanding amount of $140,000, equivalent to ₦189,000,000.
The source said, “Customers credited this account directly for dollar cash, totaling ₦138,000,000. After delays and several calls, she refunded ₦20,700,000, as shown on the receipt, leaving an unpaid balance of ₦117,300,000. Cumulatively, the fraudster held a total of ₦306,300,000 in her custody. She claimed to be sick, while her husband threatened us, saying that since we reported the matter to the EFCC, we should meet them there.”
The victim said that Eboh is a serial fraudster who uses her connections in the police and law enforcement agencies to avoid accountability after committing various fraudulent activities.
The victim alleged that Eboh exploits corruption in the system to bribe her way out of legal consequences.
She said, in one of her previous cases, still pending in court, there are strong indications that an EFCC official in Abuja is assisting in frustrating the complainants.
“We are appealing to the EFCC and law enforcement agencies to investigate all her pending cases, prosecute her, and deliver justice to all her victims.
“We are also urging the EFCC to arrest and prosecute her husband, Livinus Eboh, and her other accomplices, including Dr. (Mrs.) Blessing Anyaokei-Gozi of Charblecom Properties Ltd, Abuja,” the complainant said.
A source who previously worked at a certainaw firm also shared their experience with Eboh during their time at the firm.
“When I was working at the law firm, my boss handled a case involving Mrs Titilayo Eboh. This woman is very powerful and has strong connections with the EFCC. If you’re going to confront her, you need to have influential people backing you.
“She has been involved in these activities for a long time and has strong support, even within the government. That’s what I can share with you,” the source said.
Also another source, a lawyer revealed that Eboh has the backing of some CBN directors, and her greatest fear is publicity because she claims to be a prominent figure with a foundation that serves as a cover for her activities.
He said, “Madam Titilayo Eboh’s modus operandi is forex. Most of her victims are people looking to buy foreign exchange at a cheaper rate. You’d be surprised how she deceives these people, as she has connections within the CBN. In the last case I handled, some CBN directors were involved. The entire operation was orchestrated at the CBN, with amounts nearing a billion naira, and she failed to deliver. If you go to the EFCC, she’s a known figure. She also owns estates in Abuja. I was able to recover a little because of the way I handled the matter,” the lawyer said.
“Once you take her to the EFCC, she’s comfortable there. She spends time in their custody, and before you know it, the matters are dragged to court, where she always finds a way out. What she fears most is publicity because she runs an NGO as a cover for her illegal activities under the guise of humanitarian work. Everywhere you go, the police know about Titilayo Eboh. If you search her name on Google, you will find all her cases.
“I’ve had people contact me when they heard about her and how I handled her case, especially involving bank officials. The fact that she’s still able to operate is because our legal system is weak. If you have connections, you can walk free, even after committing serious crimes.”
The source revealed that Mrs Eboh is based in Abuja. Throughout the time he handled the case, they never met in person only through phone calls, where she would beg him not to proceed, as he was the legal counsel for the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria.
“That’s why I was able to apply some pressure on her and recover only a small amount. Every person she has defrauded is linked to forex deals, and she often uses Central Bank officials to assist her,” he said.
“In her most recent case, it involved several big Bureau De Change operators. If you go to the airport in Abuja, you’ll find one of the largest bureaux de change firms tied to her case. The matter was even referred to Interpol. She has several cases with the EFCC, but after the initial attention, she still refuses to pay.”
“She’s very fictitious. If you ask her to meet, she always hides. She doesn’t want to be seen. You know, like I said, she’s able to do this because, to be honest, the people who fall victim are those looking for cheaper deals, and that’s the truth. They want to get something at maybe CBN rates, and she’ll bring in someone from CBN to make the deal.
“There was one case I handled, involving a cousin of Maman Daura and Buhari. When I started raising the alarm, they didn’t want their names published. They put pressure on her because the amount she paid back was less than N10 or 20 million, from an amount close to N1 billion.
“She cares about her image because she’s very active in church. She’s a prominent figure there and doesn’t want anything to tarnish her reputation. She’s spent a lot of time building that image, and when her reputation is threatened, she cries crocodile tears. She’s married, and her husband supports her, to some extent,” he added.
Avalanche of petitions
In a petition written by Chinedu Ngwaka and Uchenna Ejindu, through their counsel, Ben Okezie, Esq., to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, dated September 6, a complaint was made against Eboh and her husband.
In the petition, the couple were accused of fraud, criminal breach of trust, criminal conspiracy, and unlawful obtaining of the total sums of over N3.1 billion and over N1.7 billion from Chinedu Ngwaka and Uchenna Ejindu respectively by false pretences, issuance of dud cheques, and fake telexes by the couple.
The petition reads, “We are Solicitors to Mr. Chinedu Ngwaka and Mr. Uchenna Ejindu hereinafter referred to as “our Clients” on whose express instructions and authority we write to formally bring to your attention a case of Criminal breach of trust, criminal conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence involving one Mrs. Titilayo Olufunmilayo Eboh and her husband Mr. Livinus Eboh, who deceitfully obtained substantial sums of money from our clients, one of which is a licensed Bureau De Change (BDC) operator.
“False Representation: Mrs. Titilayo Olufunmilayo Eboh presented herself to our Clients that she has access to dollars directly from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through her NGO-Blessed Hope Foundation. Relying on this false representation, our clients agreed to transact with her.
“Financial Transactions: Based on the above misrepresentation, Mr. Chinedu Ngwaka transferred a total sum of Three Billion One Hundred and Seventy Million Three Hundred Thousand and Forty Naira (13,170,300,040) to Mrs. Titilayo Olufunmilayo Eboh’s personal Zenith Bank account with account number: 1006057014, Mrs. Titilayo Olufunmilayo Eboh’s Stanbic IBTC Bank account with account number: 0018102124, a Zenith Bank account with account number: 1229237550, held by Igberaga Global Oil Enterprise, a Zenith Bank account with account nos: 1015613999 held by Eboleey C. Investment, a Providus Bank Account with account number: 5401731430, held by A&T Rogo Global Ventures, another Providus Bank account with account number: 5400496716 held by Rizqan Dayyiban Globals, and another Zenith Bank account with account number: 1229142085, held by Nahada Energy Trading Concepts.
“Additionally, Mr. Uchenna Ejindu transferred a total sum of One Billion Seven Hundred and Eighty-Four Million Sixty Thousand Naira to the same accounts, under the same false pretence.”
Okezie noted that the various bank accounts where the said monies were transferred were presented to his clients by Eboh.
It reads, “Failure to deliver and Further Deception: After the transfer of the said amounts to the various bank accounts, the said Mrs. Titilayo Olufunmilayo Eboh failed to deliver the agreed USD equivalent to our clients.”
He said despite repeated demands by his clients, Eboh did not fulfill her obligation.
He said she collected an additional sum of N1,478,900,000 and signed a letter of indemnity/undertaking dated July 6, 2024, witnessed by Livinus Eboh, her husband, in which she promised to refund the funds, inclusive of the total sum of N1,478,900,000 in USD.
The petition said, “Mrs Titilayo Olufunmilayo Eboh also issued a dud Zenith Bank cheque of One Billion, One Hundred and Fifty-Five Million Naira (N1,155,000,000) with cheque number “00000090” dated 30th of July, 2024 and fake Zenith Bank telexes of Five Hundred Thousand dollars ($500,000) and Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000) among other fake instruments to our clients. The said dud Zenith Bank cheque dated 30th of July, 2024 and fake Zenith Bank telexes are hereby annexed and marked as exhibits ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ respectively.
In another petition by other victims dated August 29, 2024, Mr. Fidelis Okafor, Obi Chimezie, Promise Charles Uchendu, Mr. Agupusi Alphonsus, and Okeke Kenechukwu, through their counsel, Hon. Ikenna Obidiegwu, sent a complaint to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Police Zonal Command, Zone 13, Ukpo.
The petition reads: “Complaint Of Stealing And Obtaining By False Pretense Against Mr. Livinus Eboh, Mrs. Titilayo Mary Eboh, Silas Ezekiel Garba, Dr. Anyaokei-Gozi Blessing C., And Surv. Caleb James. We have been briefed and our legal services retained by Mr. Fidelis Okafor, Obi Chimezie, Promise Charles Uchendu, Mr. Agupusi Alphonsus and Okeke Kenechukwu hereinafter referred to as our clients and on their instructions and behalf we write this letter to you.
“On or about the month of May 2024, One Mrs. Titilayo Mary Eboh with her husband Mr. Livinus Eboh presented herself to our clients as one with contact to source foreign exchange for them. She specifically claimed that she works with the Central Bank of Nigeria and has access to foreign exchange.”
According to Ikenna Obidiegwu, pursuant to this, she collected from our clients a total sum of N283,500,000 upon pretense that she will give them dollar equivalent of the said amount.
EFCC’s position
The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, he said, “I can assure you that on May 26, last year she was arraigned before Justice Bature of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on three charges: obtaining money under false pretenses, foreign exchange malpractice, and money laundering to the tune of two hundred and two billion naira.”
Oyewale added that the matter is in court and the EFCC is actively following up.
“How can anyone say nothing has been done when she has already been arraigned?”
“When the suspect is reported to the commission, charges are drafted, and once arraigned, if new infractions are reported, we typically amend the charges to include any new offences that were not part of the original charges.”
He continued, “Since the commission has gone to court against her, there is no hiding place for her. Those saying otherwise may not be aware of the ongoing proceedings. That’s why I always advise that when such issues are brought to your attention, it’s important to verify.”
He said any new offences she may have committed will be included in the amended charges.
“Don’t forget that when you report something, we have to investigate. It’s not enough to simply claim someone has done something. We are a very professional anti-corruption agency, and that is what the commission has done so far concerning this woman,” Oyewale said.
Livinus Eboh reacting to the allegation said, “I think it is time for me to make money. They can do whatever they want regarding my wife. Yes, they did business with her. For me, they should provide the account details showing where money was paid to my account or any transaction involving me. If they have any conversation with me, they should present it before taking further action. That’s my stance.
“But as for my wife, she has been extremely ill. She has been hospitalized for over two months and is bedridden. Listen to me, she is bedridden. She cannot walk or talk. They are fully aware of her condition.”
He added, “It’s not that she ran away. The matter was reported to the police, and they know exactly where she is. She hasn’t fled. We are fighting for her life. Once she recovers, we will address any outstanding transactions. They are just being mischievous because they know the situation. Someone they have been doing business with for months suddenly fell gravely ill. On September 7th, we almost lost her; it was only by the grace of God that she survived.
“We have been moving her from one hospital to another. If they want to be mischievous, let them go ahead. The police they reported to know the entire situation; nothing is hidden. All of them have done business with her for months and they have made significant gains, in the range of millions of naira.
“I’m not exaggerating, they have made billions from her. But just because she’s sick, at the point of death, fighting for her life, and hasn’t set foot on the ground for over two months now, they act as if she doesn’t exist. We’ve been moving her from one hospital to another. I don’t know what else to say, but personally, I have nothing to do with them anymore. And if they do anything against me, I will sue them, and I’ll sue anyone who publishes false information about me. She can’t even communicate with you. She can’t talk. Even when you see her, you would shed tears if you have any human feelings. It’s heartbreaking.
According to him, his wife screamed out in pain the day the ailment started. “People are saying it’s the people she did business with,” he said.
“I woke her up from the bed and asked, ‘What happened? What happened?’ She couldn’t walk. And since that day, until now, she hasn’t been able to put her feet on the ground. This is the fifth hospital we’re in now, and she’s still not getting better. So what are we supposed to do?
“They’re just being mischievous. I don’t even know most of them. I only know a few who came to my house when they were doing business with her and took some US dollars from her,” he added.
