Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over a bank draft of N42 million to a businessman, Ebesunun Mathew Edonojie, being the latest recovery from a fraudster who defrauded him of N175 million in a cement supply deal that went wrong in 2022. The handover was made on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, by the Acting Zonal Director, Deputy Commander of the EFCC, Sa'ad Hanafi Sa'ad, at the Commission's office in Benin City, Edo State.
According to the EFCC, Edonojie, a businessman dealing in cement, had in 2022 petitioned the Commission, alleging that one Ogiemwonyi Godwin defrauded him of N175,392,000. The petitioner stated that he transferred the sum of N350,784,000 to Godwin for the supply of 116 trucks of cement but received only 58 trucks, leaving a balance of 58 trucks valued at N175,392,000. During investigation, operatives discovered that Godwin transferred N280 million to Dangote Cement Company but diverted the balance of N70 million for his personal use and supplied only 58 trucks, leaving a balance of 58 trucks of cement. The suspect became inaccessible and unreachable but through the consistent efforts of operatives of the Commission, N116 million was previously recovered and handed over to Edonojie before the recovery of the additional N42 million.
Receiving the draft, Edonojie expressed deep gratitude to the Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, the Acting Zonal Director, Sa'ad Hanafi Sa'ad, and the entire staff of the EFCC at the Directorate. He said he had lost all hope of ever recovering the money as the suspect had become completely inaccessible. "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, the Chairman, the Zonal Director, and the entire EFCC, for the good work they are doing. It is only God that can reward you all. EFCC has become my saving grace and I am going to tell everybody how the EFCC saved me. I could not sleep because I borrowed the money. EFCC has wiped away my tears," he said.
Presenting the draft, the Acting Zonal Director assured that the Commission would continue to discharge its duties professionally to ensure justice for all. "We will continue to discharge our duties professionally and responsibly by ensuring that fraudulent people do not get away with their crime and that innocent people do not suffer unjustly," he said.
The recovery operation is part of the EFCC's broader mandate to protect the economic interests of Nigerians and ensure that those who commit financial crimes are brought to justice. The Commission has, in recent years, intensified efforts to recover stolen funds and return them to their rightful owners, often providing relief to individuals and businesses that have fallen victim to fraudsters. The case of Edonojie, who had lost all hope of recovering his money, underscores the transformative impact of the EFCC's work on the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
The EFCC has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious transactions to the Commission, while warning fraudsters that they would continue to face the full weight of the law.
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