The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has returned the sum of ₦42.5 million to a 70-year-old widow, Mrs. Margret Taye Odofin, who was defrauded by her account and investment officer in Kaduna.
The restitution took place yesterday at the EFCC Zonal Command in Kaduna, where the Acting Zonal Director, Bawa Kaltungo, presented the recovered funds to the visibly emotional victim on behalf of the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede.
According to the Commission, the funds were proceeds of fraud perpetrated by Mrs. Kehinde Olawale Yusuf, an account officer with a new generation bank, who lured the widow into a fraudulent investment scheme between November and December 2020. The suspect reportedly promised Mrs. Odofin quarterly returns of ₦1.7 million on her investments. However, the victim later discovered that over ₦47 million had been siphoned from her account without her consent.
Kaltungo explained that the restitution was part of the EFCC’s ongoing commitment to ensure justice for victims of economic and financial crimes. He said the Commission painstakingly investigated the case after Mrs. Odofin lodged a complaint, tracing and recovering part of the stolen funds from the suspect.
“The EFCC is not only about arrest and prosecution. We are equally committed to ensuring that victims of fraud recover their money whenever possible. Today’s handover is a testament to our resolve to protect the vulnerable and restore confidence in Nigeria’s financial system,” Kaltungo stated.
Receiving the cheque, Mrs. Odofin, who was overwhelmed with emotion, thanked the EFCC for their diligence and compassion. “I never believed I would get back a kobo of my money. I had lost hope completely, but the EFCC proved that justice still exists in this country,” she said tearfully.
The EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, in a statement, reiterated the agency’s determination to ensure that victims of fraudulent schemes are not left helpless. He urged Nigerians to be cautious about investment opportunities that promise unrealistic returns, describing such schemes as traps often set by fraudsters.
The Commission also disclosed that efforts were ongoing to recover the balance of the funds and bring all those involved in the scam to justice.
The EFCC has in recent months intensified its focus on restitution for fraud victims, emphasizing transparency and deterrence in its anti-corruption drive.
