Some aggrieved Lagos traders and members of the Family Food Support Association, a cooperative society, who had accused one Mrs Chinyere Emeka-Atu of mismanaging their N600m worth of investment in 2022, have resolved to sheathe their swords after reaching a resolution.
PUNCH Metro reported that Emeka-Atu was accused of defrauding members, largely market women, of over N600m on April 25, 2022, and was subsequently detained at the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Alagbon.
Each aggrieved trader was said to have contributed N9,000 to Emeka-Atu every month to get a return of N200,000 cash and N90,000 worth of foodstuffs nine months later. But things took another turn when members could not recoup their due returns, leading to a protest by the petty traders and the arrest of Emeka-Atu.
However, some of the aggrieved members told our correspondent in separate interviews on Tuesday that they had agreed with the businesswoman to settle the prolonged matter amicably, with the promise that their investments would be returned to them.
One of the leaders of the group, Uchena Elizabeth, who spoke with PUNCH Metro, said, “I am the complainant. I took the case to the police in Alagbon. We have agreed to settle the dispute amicably. We have resolved everything. All members have agreed on a settlement.”
Corroborating, another member of the group, known as Mrs Uzondu Francisca, said all parties had agreed to reconcile with Emeka-Atu over the members’ investment.
“We held meetings with all the stakeholders. We want peace. And we have all agreed on a settlement,” Francisca told PUNCH Metro.
Also, a senior police investigating officer at the Force CID, Alagbon, who is privy to the case, said all members had reached an amicable resolution.
“Emeka-Atu and aggrieved members of the cooperative have all reached a resolution. The matter has been amicably resolved,” the cop told our correspondent.
