Edith Iwunze (pseudonym), a Lagos-based woman, invested N9 million in Latrose Finance Limited in January 2021, but she hasn’t got her money back.

Before Iwunze invested in this firm, she conducted an investigation. She told FIJ that she visited the head office of the firm in Lekki, Lagos, where she found that it was a subsidiary of Miraton Matador, a company also into real estates and consulting.

Taking a step further, Iwunze checked Nairaland for reviews about Latrose Finance, and it convinced her that the firm was credible. She said, “Many people said the firm had been paying without fail since 2006.”

When everything seemed real, she then spoke to someone working in the firm, who made it clear that Latrose Finance would give her a 16 percent return on her investments but pay it quarterly.

READ ALSO: FarmFunded CEO Joshua Ajisope Threatens to Sue Investor Asking for His N3m

The ultimate conviction was when she discovered that Pastor Ituah Ighodalo was the chairman of the company. At this point, all seemed fair. On January 10, 2021, she invested N9 million in the firm.

Iwunze said that in October 2021, Latrose Finance paid her N360,000 as part of her return on investment. She said they paid her N360,000 two more times between January and July 2022 and ceased the return on investment payment.

“After a while, I became so ill and hospitalised. I started reaching out to them to request my capital because I needed it for medical reasons, but Latrose Finance gave me the runaround. It was excuses throughout,” Iwunze told FIJ.

She said that after she had pestered the company for some time, they paid her N3 million out of her N9 million and that was the last payment she got from them. This was in October 2022. Ever since, she has not heard from the company.

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

“At a point, I began to see ‘Cloudbank’ in their newsletters. I didn’t understand why they would change their names. So, I tried talking to Iluyomade Tolulope, the founder, but it yielded no success,” she said.

“I then went to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), but I learned that he’s wanted and that many others had reported him to them before me. This has gone on for two years, and my money has been hanging, but I need it back.”

When FIJ contacted Latrose Finance via their phone number, the number did not connect. A follow-up text was sent to their line, but they have not responded.