A businessman, Ebesunun Mathew Edonojie, has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after receiving an additional ₦42 million recovered from an alleged fraud involving the supply of cement.
Edonojie, who deals in cement, received a bank draft for the recovered sum on Wednesday from the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Directorate, Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad.
The businessman had petitioned the commission in 2022, alleging that one Ogiemwonyi Godwin defrauded him of ₦175.392 million after receiving payment for 116 truckloads of cement but supplying only 58 trucks.
According to the EFCC, investigations revealed that the suspect transferred ₦280 million to Dangote Cement Company but diverted the remaining ₦70 million for personal use, resulting in the shortfall in supply.
The commission said although the suspect later became unreachable, sustained investigative efforts led to the recovery of ₦116 million, which had earlier been returned to Edonojie, before an additional ₦42 million was recovered and presented to him.
Expressing gratitude, Edonojie said he had lost hope of ever recovering the money because the suspect had disappeared.
“I lost hope completely. I did not even believe that I could recover the money as the man was nowhere to be found. I am more than grateful to the EFCC for the good work they are doing. EFCC has become my saving grace,” he said.
Speaking during the presentation, Sa’ad assured the public that the commission would remain committed to professionally investigating financial crimes, recovering stolen assets and ensuring that victims of fraud obtain justice.
