The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has returned N42.5 million to a 70-year-old widow and retiree, Mrs. Margret Odofin, who was allegedly swindled by her account and investment officer.
The anti-graft agency, in a statement on its official X handle on Friday, said the money was presented to the victim via a bank draft at the Kaduna Zonal Directorate on Thursday. The Acting Zonal Director, Bawa Kaltungo, made the presentation on behalf of the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.
According to the commission, Mrs. Odofin had in December 2024 petitioned the Kaduna office, accusing her account officer, one Mrs. Kehinde Yusuf, a staff member of a new generation bank, of luring her into a fake Ponzi scheme between November and December 2020.
Yusuf allegedly promised the widow a quarterly return of N1.7 million but instead siphoned over N47 million from her account into various personal and third-party accounts without her consent.
The EFCC said the suspect later fled to the United Kingdom and severed communication with her victim.
Despite the suspect’s escape, the commission said it successfully traced and recovered part of the stolen money, which has now been refunded to Mrs. Odofin.
Overcome with emotion, the widow praised the EFCC for coming to her rescue.
“I can’t believe this. When we reported the case in the UK, we were told it happened in Nigeria and advised to contact the EFCC.
We did, and today I’m singing praises to God. He has used the commission to wipe away my tears.
I waited for years to get my hard-earned money back,” she said.