Zenith Bank Plc has stepped forward to clear the air after a viral video and manipulated images falsely linked its Group Chairman, Jim Ovia, to a so-called investment scheme named “Wealth Bridge.”
The bank made the clarification in an official statement shared on its X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, stressing that neither the chairman, the bank, nor any of its affiliates are connected to the scheme.
The Viral Video and False Claims
The video, which reportedly originated from a Facebook account named “Greece Island,” encouraged viewers to invest in the scheme with promises of weekly returns of up to N2 million for an initial investment of N380,000.
The clip went further by claiming, incorrectly, that the investment had approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)—a claim the bank dismissed as entirely fabricated.
Zenith Bank described the content as “entirely false” and urged the public not to engage with the scheme in any form.
How Scammers Are Trying to Trick People
According to the bank, the video redirects viewers to a fake Arise News webpage that contains registration portals to sign up for the supposed scheme.
This is a common tactic used by scammers to gather personal data and money from unsuspecting investors.
The bank emphasized that any communication encouraging people to invest in “Wealth Bridge” is fraudulent and should be ignored.
Why Zenith Bank Is Speaking Out
Fraudulent schemes that use prominent names like Jim Ovia can easily mislead people, especially those unfamiliar with online scams.
By publicly addressing the issue, Zenith Bank hopes to prevent victims from falling prey to such tactics.
The bank also reminded the public that all communications relating to investments should be verified through official channels.
What’s next?
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Zenith Bank has pledged to continue monitoring the situation and report any suspicious activity to authorities.
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Members of the public are advised to report similar scams to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or local law enforcement.
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Always verify investment opportunities directly with the official institution before sending any money.
Summary
Zenith Bank Plc has denied any link between Jim Ovia and the fraudulent “Wealth Bridge” investment scheme, calling the circulating video and images entirely false.
The public has been urged to ignore the claims and avoid registering on fake websites.
The bank warns that scammers are using manipulated content and fake webpages to deceive investors, highlighting the importance of caution and verification before engaging in any online investment.
