Emmanuel Ukudolo
LAGOS, Nigeria – Access Holdings Plc, one of Africa’s largest financial services conglomerates, has issued an urgent warning to the public following the discovery of a sophisticated fraudulent scheme impersonating its chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.
The scam, which primarily operates through the encrypted messaging platform WhatsApp, involves the creation of a fraudulent group titled “Value Focus Club 60.”
According to company officials and security reports, the perpetrators are using Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede’s name and likeness to solicit funds for fictitious investment schemes.
The fraudsters utilized a Nigerian mobile number—+234 915 708 8290—to lend a veneer of local authenticity to the group.
By leveraging the reputation of Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede, a titan of the Nigerian banking sector and a co-founder of Access Bank, the scammers targeted unsuspecting investors with promises of exclusive financial returns.
The alarm was first raised by a whistleblower, prompting an immediate internal investigation by the holding company.
In a statement aimed at de-risking its brand reputation, Access Holdings clarified its official communication protocols:
No Executive Outreach: The Chairman does not manage or participate in private investment groups on WhatsApp.
Institutional Policy: Access Holdings does not provide investment advisory services or solicit capital through instant messaging platforms.
Zero Legitimacy: Any communication suggesting an affiliation between these groups and the bank’s leadership is “100% fraudulent.”
”The company is already working with relevant authorities to shut down these channels, but public awareness remains the first line of defense,” the group noted in a briefing to stakeholders.
Rising Digital Fraud in Frontier Markets
The incident highlights a growing trend of “executive impersonation” in Nigeria’s financial hub.
As digital banking penetration grows, scammers are increasingly shifting away from traditional email phishing toward social media platforms where the personal touch of a “chairman” can more easily bypass a victim’s skepticism.
Access Holdings has advised the public to block and report the suspicious number, refrain from sharing personal or banking credentials, and verify any investment opportunities through official corporate channels.
While the “Value Focus Club 60” is currently being dismantled, security analysts warn that similar “clones” often emerge shortly after a high-profile takedown.
For now, the message from Lagos is clear: if the Chairman is texting you for money, it isn’t the Chairman.