The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over an additional ₦42 million recovered from suspected fraudsters to an Edo businessman, Ebesunun Mathew Edonojie, bringing the total amount recovered in connection with a 2022 cement supply fraud to ₦158 million.
The cheque was presented on Wednesday at the Benin Zonal Directorate by the Acting Zonal Director, Deputy Commander of the EFCC, Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad.
According to the anti-graft agency, Edonojie, a cement dealer, petitioned the Commission in 2022 after alleging that one Ogiemwonyi Godwin defrauded him of ₦175.392 million in a failed cement supply transaction.
Investigations revealed that the businessman paid ₦350.784 million to the suspect for the supply of 116 truckloads of cement. However, only 58 trucks were delivered, leaving an outstanding balance of 58 trucks valued at ₦175.392 million.
The EFCC disclosed that its investigation showed the suspect paid ₦280 million to Dangote Cement for part of the order but diverted the remaining ₦70 million for personal use before becoming unreachable.
Although the suspect reportedly went into hiding, the Commission said persistent investigative efforts led to the recovery of ₦116 million, which had earlier been returned to the victim. The latest recovery of ₦42 million raises the total amount refunded to ₦158 million.
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Receiving the bank draft, Edonojie thanked EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, the Acting Zonal Director, and officers of the Benin Directorate for their efforts, saying he had lost hope of ever recovering the money.
“I lost hope completely. I did not believe I could recover the money because the man was nowhere to be found. EFCC has become my saving grace. I borrowed the money and could not sleep because of the loss. EFCC has wiped away my tears,” he said.
Speaking during the presentation, Sa’ad reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to protecting victims of financial crimes and ensuring fraudsters are brought to justice.
“We will continue to discharge our duties professionally and responsibly by ensuring that fraudulent people do not get away with their crimes and that innocent people do not suffer unjustly,” he said.
