Zenith Bank Plc has clarified that a “doctored video” and manipulated images circulating on social media, which allegedly show its Group Chairman, Jim Ovia, endorsing a fraudulent investment scheme called “Wealth Bridge,” are entirely false.
The bank issued the statement via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday.
According to Zenith Bank, the video, reportedly shared from a Facebook account named “Greece Island,” encourages members of the public to engage in a business relationship with the so-called entity.
The clip falsely promises returns of up to N2 million weekly on an initial investment of N380,000 and claims that the scheme has the backing or approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“This claim is entirely false and has no connection whatsoever to the Group Chairman, the bank, or any of its affiliate companies,” the bank said.
“The video redirects unsuspecting members of the public to an alleged Arise News webpage with the details of this scheme and an embedded registration portal for signups. The general public is hereby advised to disregard these fraudulent communications.”
The rise of AI-generated and manipulated videos has become a growing tool for fraudsters targeting unsuspecting Nigerians. Last week, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, warned the public about a similar fake AI-generated video that falsely depicted her promoting an investment scheme.
The manipulated clip claimed participants could earn millions of naira weekly from a minimum investment of N380,000, describing it as an “official programme” backed by the government and managed by financial experts. It also created artificial urgency by stating that limited slots were available.
Fraudulent schemes like these often promise guaranteed high returns, claim regulatory endorsement, and exploit the likeness of prominent individuals to gain credibility.
Zenith Bank cautioned that anyone engaging with the “Greece Island” handle, “Wealth Bridge,” or other related platforms mentioned in the fake materials does so at their own risk. The bank reiterated its advice for the public to ignore these videos and verify investment opportunities through official channels.
In its unaudited nine-month financial report ending September 2025, Zenith Bank posted a pre-tax profit of N917.4 billion. For Q3 2025 alone, the Group recorded a pre-tax profit of N291.78 billion, reflecting a 6% increase from N275.8 billion in Q3 2024. Gross earnings rose by 16.29% year-on-year to N3.37 trillion in the first nine months of 2025, up from N2.89 trillion during the same period in 2024
