RismadarVoice Reporters
July 29, 2026
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over an additional ₦42 million recovered from suspected fraudsters to a businessman, bringing the total amount recovered in the case to ₦158 million.
The Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Directorate, Deputy Commander Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, presented a bank draft for the recovered sum to Ebesunun Mathew Edonojie on Wednesday.
Edonojie, a cement dealer, had petitioned the Commission in 2022, alleging that one Ogiemwonyi Godwin defrauded him of ₦175.392 million in a failed cement supply transaction.
According to the EFCC, investigations revealed that the businessman transferred ₦350.784 million to the suspect for the supply of 116 truckloads of cement, but only 58 trucks were delivered, leaving an outstanding balance valued at ₦175.392 million.
The Commission said further investigation showed that the suspect paid ₦280 million to Dangote Cement Company for part of the transaction but diverted the remaining ₦70 million for personal use before becoming unreachable.
Despite the suspect’s disappearance, the EFCC said sustained investigative efforts led to the recovery of ₦116 million, which had earlier been returned to the victim, while a further ₦42 million was subsequently recovered and presented to him, raising the total recovery to ₦158 million.
Receiving the bank draft, Edonojie expressed gratitude to the EFCC, saying he had lost hope of recovering the money after the suspect went into hiding.
He described the Commission as his “saving grace,” noting that the recovery had brought relief after he borrowed the funds used in the failed business transaction.
Presenting the draft, Acting Zonal Director Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring justice for victims of financial crimes and preventing fraudsters from benefiting from criminal activities.
