EFCC recovers N550,000 for scammed blind teacher

Mary Ihekanacho, a blind teacher, has been presented with a draft of N550, 000 which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission recovered from a gang of fraudsters that swindled her of N 830,000 in a job scam, Wilson Uwujaren, the commission’s spokesman, said on Thursday.

Uwujaren (pictured) disclosed that the syndicate conned the woman by promising to facilitate her son’s employment at one of the major oil companies.

“The EFCC stands for justice for all and calls on the general public to ensure that they assist the it in carrying out its duties by coming forward to give evidence in court when it is required,” David Iloyanomo, who made the presentation on behalf of Ibrahim Lamorde, chairman of EFCC, said.

He also praised the passion with which officers of the commission handled the matter, which made it possible to get justice for Ihekanacho.

Ihekanacho commended the EFCC for coming to her rescue.

“I had lost hope. I prayed and asked God to take control and was surprised when Richard called me to say the young man had been arrested,” she said.

She called on Nigerians to support EFCC’s efforts to rid the nation of fraudulent activities.

“If someone can scam a blind woman, what else won’t that person do?” she said.

Sometime in July 2012, Ihekanacho fell into the hands of some fraudsters led by Gift Onyegam who defrauded her of the sum of N830, 000.00.

Following her petition, Onyegam was arrested and arraigned on a four-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence before ML Shuaibu, justice of the federal high court, Enugu.

On February 24, 2014, Justice Shuiabu convicted and sentenced Onyegam to 10 years imprisonment without option of fine. The court also ordered the convict to pay the victim the sum of N711, 000 in restitution.”