EFCC recovers additional ₦42 million for businessman in ₦175.4 million cement fraud case

Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully recovered an additional ₦42 million for a businessman embroiled in a cement supply fraud case, bringing the total recovered funds to ₦158 million. The acting zonal director of the EFCC's Benin Zonal Directorate, Sa’ad Sa’ad, presented the recovered money to the businessman, Ebesunun Edonojie, on Wednesday.

Edonojie had petitioned the EFCC in 2022, alleging that Ogiemwonyi Godwin defrauded him of ₦175.39 million in a failed cement transaction. He stated that he transferred ₦350.78 million for 116 truckloads of cement, but only 58 trucks were delivered. Investigators found that the suspect diverted ₦70 million of the payment for personal use after paying ₦280 million to Dangote Cement Company for part of the order.

The EFCC had previously recovered and handed over ₦116 million to Edonojie. The latest recovery of ₦42 million means that ₦17.39 million remains unrecovered. Edonojie, who had borrowed the money, expressed profound relief and gratitude, stating he had lost hope of recovering the funds after the suspect became unreachable.

"I lost hope completely. I did not even believe that I could recover the money as the man was nowhere to be found," Edonojie said. "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. 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."

Sa’ad reiterated the commission's commitment to ensuring justice for victims of financial crimes and holding perpetrators accountable, emphasizing professional and responsible duty execution.

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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. 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.