The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has returned N80 million to a 42 year old businessman after investigators recovered the money from a man accused of selling him land and then failing to hand it over.
Acting zonal director of the commission’s Benin directorate, Deputy Commander Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, presented a banker’s draft for the sum to Ifeanyi Innocent Madueke in Benin City on Thursday 24 September 2026.
The commission said the money was recovered from Austine Muanya Okafor, who is alleged to have sold 146 acres of land in a community in Delta State to Madueke without delivering possession of the property.
Madueke paid N232.8 million for the land. After he was unable to take ownership, he asked Okafor for a refund and was refused. He then petitioned the EFCC.
Investigators found that Madueke transferred the purchase money to the suspects in three instalments. Operatives later recovered N80 million of that sum, which has now been returned to him by draft.
Presenting the draft, Mr Sa’ad said the commission would continue to carry out its work professionally and with integrity. He added that fraudsters would not be allowed to profit from deals they had not honoured.
Receiving the money, Madueke thanked the commission and said he had almost given up before he lodged his petition.
“I am grateful to the Commission for what they have done. I had lost hope before I came to EFCC. I thank the management and staff for the good work they are doing,” he said.
The commission has not said whether further sums from the original N232.8 million payment have been traced, or whether criminal charges have been filed against Okafor.
By A.Ikechukwu
