The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, returned the sum of N67,523,000 to Mr. Emmanuel Onyekachukwu Onah , a trader based in Onitsha, Anambra State, who fell victim to suspected fraudsters.
Spokesperson to the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement that Onah’s ordeal started sometime in 2019 when he transferred a sum of N75, 760,540.00 to the duo of Tega Esinone and Obiajulu Umeagukwu for onward transmission to his business partner, Crecedor Industrial Co. Ltd in Hong Kong, but the suspects allegedly converted the money to their own use.
When efforts to recover his money from the suspects failed, Onah petitioned the EFCC which, in the course of investigating the scam, initiated a non-conviction based forfeiture process which culminated in a December 1, 2020 ruling by Justice I.N Buba of the Federal High Court, Enugu, ordering the forfeiture of the sum of N67, 522,831.55 in a new generation bank account belonging to Tega Esinone to the victim.
Presenting the cheques to the victim on Thursday, Oshodi Johnson, Head of the EFCC Enugu office said the gesture demonstrates the Commission’s stance on justice for all. “EFCC is for everybody and all that the EFCC stands for is justice. We will continue to work within its mandate to ensure that Nigeria becomes a nation that is corrupt free. We will not rest until this is achieved.”
He warned fraudsters of the Commission’s readiness to fish them out anywhere they are, saying that it would be better they repent from their nefarious activities because it was only a matter of time before the long arms of law catches up with them.
In his remarks after receiving the cheques, Mr Onah expressed gratitude to the Commission for helping to recover his money. “Honestly, I am so overjoyed because today is a day of smile. I came to you people in tears but today my heart is full of joy and my face is full of smiles. I am now a living testimony that the EFCC works and they can bring justice even to the common man”, he said.
