•Lack of communication on our payment making us angry, says clients
Angry clients have assaulted senior executives of Oxford International Group (OIG), inflicting injuries, vandalising vehicles, properties and residential homes over refund of money invested in business.

The angry clients attacked the Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Dr. Goodluck Olatunde Precious, on his way back from cross over service with his family in Ogun State on January 1, 2023.

According to the Group Head, Corporate Communications, OIG, Benjamin Sarumi, the Chief Executive Officer was shot at, dragged out of his car and beaten to a pulp, with injuries inflicted to his eyes, a busted lip and complete vandalisation of his personal vehicle.

According to the evidence seen by The Guardian, senior executives of the comapany were hospitalised with injuries inflicted on their bodies.

The angry clients and policemen invaded and destroyed official properties and residential homes of the company’s staff in pursuit of funds invested.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had last year sealed some of the company’s offices for allegedly conducting investment-related business without regulatory approval.

The company divested into finance, which led to engaging with SEC for an Asset Management licence. Promoters advertised the business on billboards with high percentages, resulting in SEC halting the registration process.

Hearing the news, clients panicked and requested for refund of their money invested in the company’s chain of business.

Sarumi said the company explained the matter to the clients, who demanded refund of the capital and return on investment.

He said due to the constant demand of the clients, the company proposed a payment plan of 70 per cent advance payment, while the remaining 30 per cent would be paid within a period of two months when the investment matures.

Sarumi said some of the clients, who were influenced by social media reports of the company being sealed and out of operation, insisted they get their full money immediately.

He said after several attempts to make the clients understand how the business works, they remained adamant on receiving their full payment despite the first payment made into their account.

Also, disturbing threat messages sent by some aggrieved clients to officials and marketers, which was seen by The Guardian, states: “Tell anyone who cares to listen, on January 1, 2023, whoever I meet at your office would be unfortunate.”

He said the services of External Solicitors have been employed to look into issues that are a bit complicated as well as the pros and cons where some of the clients would accept cash or land in lieu of their funds.

When The Guardian contacted the aggrieved clients, some said they have received full payment, while others said the marketers sent message via email of extension of time in payment of the funds and refused to give a certain date on when the money would be paid the money.

One of the clients, Onuorah Nkiru, said she is expecting N722, 000 on her due date for payment, which is January 22, 2023, but the marketers have refused to communicate with her after the company sent a mail pleading for extension of date to pay the funds.

“I received a mail that I should exercise patient for time extension and I replied them, since then they have not replied the mail I sent. This lack of communication is what is causing the problem. They send message and when we reply they don’t get across again, so it is putting fear in us. This is why some clients are being violent.

“I am patiently waiting for January 22 when my investment will be due to know if they will pay and if they don’t, I will take action,” she said.

Another client, Martins Ifeabunike, said his first investment was successful; hence, he made another investment and referred his sisters to also invest.

“This second time, I invested for 16 months same with my sisters. My investment is supposed to be due January 17, 2023 and it is about N8 million. My greatest anger is that the marketer that told me about the investment, whenever I send her message or call her, she doesn’t reply or pick my calls. What she does is to refer me to another person and the same thing is what I face.

“My own is that they are not giving me any information. If they communicate with us, then our mind will be at peace and we will know what is happening and not take laws into our hands.

“At a point I got worried. What I plan on doing is that when I return to Nigeria from United Arab Emirates, things will not be funny,” he said.

One of the clients, Mrs Becky Ashion, said she has no problem with the company, saying, “I don’t have any problem with them. I invested and have been fully paid. Some were given landed properties and I know so many got landed property for their money.”

When The Guardian contacted the Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, he said the company reportedly owes people money, who reported to different police stations, areas and state commands across the country.

He said the police commands began investigations into the matter and were given instruction by the force headquarters to stop investigation as the case has been transferred to the criminal investigations department (CID).

The PPRO said the policemen that allegedly invaded the company’s premises are from the Force CID and not the state or area commands.