The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has returned N42.5 million to 70-year-old widow and retiree, Mrs. Margret Taye Odofin, who was defrauded by her account and investment officer at a new generation bank.

The recovered funds, traced to the suspect, Mrs. Kehinde Olawale Yusuf, were handed over to Mrs. Odofin in Kaduna by the Acting Director of EFCC’s Kaduna Zonal Command, Bawa Kaltungo, on behalf of the Commission’s Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede.

Mrs. Odofin had approached the EFCC in December 2024 after discovering that Yusuf had diverted her savings. She alleged that in 2020, the banker had lured her into a fake investment scheme, promising a quarterly return of N1.7 million. She later found that N47 million had been siphoned from her account and transferred to multiple destinations without her authorization.

The suspect reportedly fled to the United Kingdom after the fraud was uncovered. EFCC investigators tracked her down, resulting in the recovery of part of the stolen funds.

Emotionally overwhelmed while receiving the money, Mrs. Odofin expressed her gratitude to the EFCC, describing the moment as a restoration of hope.

“I cannot believe this is happening. When we reported the case in the UK, we were told the offence occurred in Nigeria and that only the EFCC could help,” she said. “Today, God has used the Commission to wipe away my tears. I waited for years to get my hard-earned money back. I will campaign for the EFCC everywhere because they have proven that justice still works in Nigeria.”

Kaltungo, representing the EFCC Chairman, emphasized that the recovery reflects the Commission’s dedication to delivering justice to victims of financial crimes.

“This recovery demonstrates our professionalism and capacity to resolve cases within our mandate,” he said. He further reaffirmed that under Olukoyede’s leadership, the EFCC remains committed to pursuing financial criminals and ensuring victims receive justice, no matter how long it takes.