EFCC Recovers N42.5M for 70-year-old Widow Defrauded by Banker Who Fled to UK

ByEditor

Nov 7, 2025 #bank fraud Nigeria, #EFCC hands over recovered funds, #EFCC recovery, #Kaduna EFCC, #Kehinde Olawale Yusuf, #Nigerian banker scam, #Ola Olukoyede, #widow defrauded

Malik Yahya/

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 former banker and investment officer, Mrs Kehinde Olawale Yusuf.

The recovered funds were handed over to Mrs Odofin in Kaduna by the EFCC’s Acting Director of the Kaduna Zonal Directorate, Bawa Kaltungo, on behalf of the Commission’s Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.

According to the EFCC, the widow had in December 2024 petitioned the Commission, alleging that Mrs Yusuf, who worked with a new-generation bank, lured her into a fake investment scheme between November and December 2020.

Yusuf reportedly promised a quarterly return of N1.7 million but instead siphoned N47 million from the victim’s account, transferring the funds to various bank accounts without her consent before fleeing to the United Kingdom.

Despite the suspect’s escape, the EFCC traced and recovered part of the stolen money, which was officially presented to the widow on Friday.

An emotional Mrs Odofin expressed profound gratitude to the EFCC and its leadership. “I cannot believe this because when we reported this case in the United Kingdom where Mrs Kehinde Yusuf absconded after defrauding me, they said the offence was committed in Nigeria and advised that we report to the EFCC. Today, I am singing to the glory of God because He has used the Commission to wipe away my tears. I have waited for years to get my hard-earned money back,” she said.

She added, “I want to thank Mr Ola Olukoyede for the excellent job he is doing. I will campaign for the EFCC anywhere because today they have given me every reason to believe and testify that the Commission is working sincerely. I pray for you all that you continue to succeed.”

Kaltungo, who made the presentation, reaffirmed the Commission’s resolve to protect victims of financial crime.

“We appreciate you for trusting the Commission to recover your hard-earned money. We are happy to have demonstrated our professionalism and capacity to deliver justice within our mandate,” he said.