Picnews
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has returned N42.5 million to a 70-year-old widow, Mrs. Margret Taye Odofin, who was defrauded by her account officer, Mrs. Kehinde Olawale Yusuf, at a new generation bank in Kaduna. The bank officer had lured Mrs. Odofin into investing in a Ponzi scheme, promising her a quarterly return of N1.7 million, but instead, diverted N47 million from her account into multiple other accounts.
Mrs. Yusuf fled to the United Kingdom after the fraud was uncovered, but the EFCC successfully tracked and recovered N42.5 million of the stolen funds. The recovered amount was handed over to Mrs. Odofin at the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Commission by Acting Director Bawa Kaltungo on behalf of EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede. Mrs. Odofin expressed her gratitude to the EFCC, saying, “I cannot believe this because when we reported this case in the United Kingdom, they said the offence was committed in Nigeria, hence they advised that we report to it the EFCC, which we did and today I am singing to the glory of God because God has used the Commission to wipe away my tears.”
The EFCC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring justice for victims of financial crimes, with Kaltungo stating, “We appreciate your trust in the Commission to recover your money. This recovery demonstrates our professionalism, integrity, and capacity to deliver justice within our mandate.” The Commission’s efforts in recovering stolen funds and bringing perpetrators to justice are part of its ongoing fight against corruption and financial crimes in Nigeria.
The EFCC’s actions in this case demonstrate its dedication to protecting citizens’ rights and combating financial crimes, and it encourages citizens to report suspicious activities and cooperate with the Commission to ensure justice is served. The Commission’s efforts have brought relief to Mrs. Odofin, who can now rebuild her life after being defrauded of her savings.
