EFCC Removes Foreign National Ellie Bitar from Wanted List in Ongoing CBEX Fraud Probe
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially removed Ellie Bitar, a foreign national, from its wanted list in connection with the alleged fraud involving the Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) trading platform.
Bitar had initially been declared wanted by the anti-graft agency on April 30, with his details widely circulated on social media, including a notice posted on EFCC’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle. The notice, now deleted, had listed Bitar’s last known address as Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
However, in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the Commission said Bitar’s name was removed following the emergence of new information that cleared him of suspicion.
“Ellie Bitar of CBEX Solutions Ltd., who was earlier declared wanted, has since been removed from the list owing to new information that does not support his inclusion in the wanted person’s list,” the statement read.
The EFCC reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing investigations into the CBEX case, which has drawn nationwide attention following the reported collapse of the platform in April, leading to widespread financial losses among Nigerian investors.
“The Commission is making significant progress in its investigations, with law enforcement agencies worldwide working together to track and apprehend all the wanted individuals,” Oyewale added.
Eight individuals had earlier been declared wanted in connection with the CBEX fraud scheme. The Federal High Court in Abuja has also authorized the EFCC to arrest and detain persons found to be promoting or facilitating the controversial investment platform.
Videos circulating online have shown distressed Nigerians calling for justice and demanding the recovery of funds lost in the CBEX debacle.
The EFCC said it remains committed to bringing all perpetrators of the scheme to justice, as cross-border investigations continue in collaboration with international partners.
