A Lagos-based researcher has detailed how Sam Afolabi, founder of Eatrich Farms, allowed Timi Afolabi, his younger brother and employee, get arrested by the police before disappearing into thin air with investors’ funds.

The researcher, who pleaded anonymity, told FIJ that Timi is now in prison for refusing to run into hiding like the founder. The researcher also said that, prior to his arrest, Timi was not aware that Sam had no intention to pay back the investors he owed.

The source also noted that Timi was just an employee of the company.

“He was not a shareholder in the company, as many investors believed. In fact, Timi was interested in helping investors get their money back. Unfortunately, Sam did not care about all these,” the source said.

“The moment Sam realised the company would crash, he told Timi to stop working. However, Timi did not listen to the instructions his brother gave. He kept going to work. At one point, Sam further told him to leave the country, but he did not give him a reason for that. He decided to stay in the country and continue working.”

READ MORE: With the Help of Sterling Bank Staff, Eatrich Farms’ Sam Afolabi Fraudulently Obtains N88m Loan With Employees’ Accounts

The researcher further told FIJ that the founder further instructed his brother to shut down the company last year without informing other employees about the crisis it was facing.

“But Timi would not shut down the company. When he eventually realised the company was in crisis, he decided to sell some assets so he could pay some of the investors. When the company eventually crashed, the investors came for his head. This was because he was the founder’s only family member that was reachable,” the source said.

After Sam’s arrest, aggrieved investors subjected his then-pregnant wife and her parents to harassment, both physically and over the phone.

“When Timi decided to honour an invitation by the Alagbon Police Command, the officers on duty decided to arrest him. Sam did nothing about it. His wife borrowed money to help free him, but the move did not work. After standing trial at an Abuja High Court in December 2021, he was sentenced to eight months in prison,” she said.

READ MORE: Sam Afolabi’s Eatrich Farms Owes Staff and Investors N1bn but Arrests them for Protesting

“All these happened while Timi’s wife was pregnant. For someone who has nothing to his name, he is wasting away in prison. Also, as a result of the constant threats she has continued to receive, his wife now stays with her parents.

“Sam and his wife have disappeared into thin air. Even the entire extended family do not know where they currently are. Sam’s immediate family has also abandoned Timi. I do not know why he has to pay for his brother’s fraudulent ways.”

FIJ made phone calls to Sam Afolabi, but his phone line was not reachable. He had also not replied to an SMS sent to him at press time.

READ MORE: After FIJ’s Report, Police Release Ex-Workers, Investors Detained by Eatrich Farms

In recent times, Sam Afolabi has made several media headlines over fraud. On March 25, FIJ reported that he obtained a loan of N88 million, using his employees’ accounts without their knowledge.

In October 2021, over 250 investors lost their savings to Sam Afolabi’s Eatrich Farms and Food Ltd. Following the company’s crash, Sam disappeared with his investors’ money.

In September 2021, FIJ also reported how he arrested his now ex-staff members for protesting against his unwillingness to pay what he owed them.