EFCC gives businessman extra ₦42 million in cement fraud case

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has given an additional ₦42 million recovered from suspected fraudsters to a businessman. This brings the total recovered amount in a cement supply fraud case to ₦158 million.

In a press release posted on X, the EFCC said the money was handed over to the businessman, Ebesunun Edonojie. The Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Directorate, Sa’ad Sa’ad, presented the funds on Wednesday.

Mr Edonojie had reported to the EFCC in 2022. He claimed that one Ogiemwonyi Godwin defrauded him of ₦175.39 million in a failed cement supply deal.

The EFCC explained that Mr Edonojie transferred ₦350.78 million to the suspect for 116 truckloads of cement. But only 58 trucks were delivered, leaving an outstanding balance of 58 trucks worth ₦175.39 million.

Investigators discovered that the suspect paid ₦280 million to Dangote Cement Company for part of the order. But he diverted the remaining ₦70 million for personal use.

The suspect later became unreachable. This led the EFCC to work hard to trace and recover the stolen funds.

Previously, the EFCC recovered and gave ₦116 million to the businessman. The latest recovery of ₦42 million brings the total amount recovered to ₦158 million, leaving ₦17.39 million still to be recovered.

After receiving the bank draft, Mr Edonojie thanked the EFCC for their efforts in the case, despite the suspect's disappearance.

He mentioned that he had lost hope of getting the money back 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,” he 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.”

A few days ago, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the EFCC handed over ₦24 million to a former senator.

During the handover, Mr Sa’ad stated that the commission is dedicated to helping victims of financial crimes get justice while holding offenders accountable.

“We will continue to do our work professionally and responsibly by making sure that fraudulent people do not escape their punishment and that innocent people do not suffer unfairly,” he said.