Chinmark: Anxiety as over 4,000 investors fear for investments

Nearly 5,000 investors have become apprehensive over the state of their funds invested in Chinmark, a company said to be into real estate, logistics, hospitality, and food.

Many of the investors have taken to social media to attack the chief executive and chairman of Chinmark Group, Marksman Ijiomah, over unpaid funds invested in the company despite many deadlines given for refund.

The investors also criticised social media influencers and brand ambassadors for the company, Amanda Chisom and Harrison Gwamnishu.

Ijiomah confirmed in a statement on Facebook that his group received funds from 4,966 persons, noting that 500 have been paid so far.

“From the proceeds of our business (Hospitality, Transportation, Food and Logistics) despite our operational bank accounts being frozen by Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) on December 21, 2021 till date, we resumed payment to our partners on March 16, 2022; so far, out of 4966 partners, we have been able to pay 500 partners following an arithmetic order from our backlogs,” the statement said.

The Enugu-based businessman said he was restricted from publishing the names of those that had received payment.

He also pleaded with the remaining 4,466 investors to remain calm, saying that the operational bank accounts of his company were frozen by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

“Let me reassure you that your money is safe with us and we remain committed to repaying all partners soonest, update on partnership repayment will be provided always and your managers will call to follow up; until then, I would humbly request you to kindly bear with us,” the statement added.

Ijiomah noted that Chinmark has received “lots of petitions from government agencies by aggrieved partners”.

The SEC had in a December 25, 2021 press statement on its official website described Chinmark as an “illegal operator”.