A 70-year-old widow, Mrs Margret Taye Odofin, has finally recovered ₦42.5 million from her banker who defrauded her through a fake investment scheme, following the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The restitution was made at the Kaduna Zonal Command where the Acting Director, Bawa Kaltungo, presented the cheque to the elated retiree on behalf of the Commission’s Executive Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede.
According to the EFCC, Mrs Odofin’s ordeal began in 2020 when her account officer, Mrs Kehinde Olawale Yusuf, convinced her to invest in a phoney scheme that promised ₦1.7 million quarterly returns.
Trusting her banker, she committed her savings, only to later discover that ₦47 million had vanished from her account without authorisation.
After several futile attempts to recover her money, Mrs Odofin petitioned the EFCC in December 2024, leading to a thorough investigation.
The suspect, who allegedly fled to the United Kingdom, was eventually traced, and part of the funds were recovered through diligent tracking of multiple bank transfers.
Overcome with emotion during the presentation ceremony, the septuagenarian wept as she praised the EFCC for restoring her faith in justice.
“I had lost hope completely. When we reported to the authorities in the UK, we were told the crime happened in Nigeria. Today, the EFCC has proven that justice still exists in this country,” she said.“They have wiped away my tears. I will forever speak well of this Commission.”
Speaking on behalf of the EFCC Chairman, Kaltungo said the recovery was a testament to the agency’s strengthened resolve to protect victims of financial crimes.
“This case shows our renewed efficiency under Mr Olukoyede’s leadership. We are committed to ensuring that every kobo stolen from Nigerians is recovered, no matter how long it takes,” he stated.
He also urged Nigerians to be cautious of investment offers that sound “too good to be true,” stressing that most fraudulent schemes are often disguised as legitimate opportunities.
