Joseph Bakare
The Ag Zonal Director, Benin Zonal Directorate, Deputy Commander of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad on Wednesday July 29, 2026 handed over a bank draft of N42 million to Ebesunun Mathew Edonojie, being the sum recovered by operatives of the Commission from fraudsters that defrauded him.
Edonojie, a businessman dealing in cement had in 2022 petitioned the Commission 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 that he was supplied with 58 trucks leaving a balance of 58 trucks which amounted to 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 58 trucks leaving a balance of 58 trucks of cement.
The suspect became inaccessible and unreachable but through the consistent effort of operatives of the Commission, the Commission recovered N116,000,000 which was previously handed over to Edonojie before recovery of additional N42,000, 000
Receiving the draft, Edonojie expressed deep gratitude to the Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, the Ag Zonal Director, Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad and the entire staff of EFCC at the Directorate for the wonderful work. Edonojie said he lost hope completely about ever recovering the money as the suspect became inaccessible. “I lost hope completely. I did not even believe that I could recover the money as the man (suspect) 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 Ag Zonal Director, assured that the Commission will 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.”