The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered N211.4 million for two victims of separate property fraud cases in Delta State.

In a statement on Thursday, the commission said its acting zonal director in the Benin office, Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, on Tuesday handed over a draft of N195 million to Agofure Etadafe,  being the sum recovered by the commission on his behalf.

The commission said that Etadafe in March petitioned the agency that the trio of Adoni Ogbeni, Osaretin Hilda Ogbeni and Temple  Jafaru defrauded him of N200 million under the pretence of selling to him a landed property situated at Effurun, Delta State. 

“Upon payment of N200 million, attempts by the complainant to take possession of the land became impossible as it was discovered that the land legally belonged to someone else,” the agency said.

Speaking during the presentation, Mr Sa’ad reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to recovering proceeds of crime and ensuring that fraudsters do not retain their illegal earnings.

Receiving the draft, Mr Etadafe commended the commission for its professionalism, saying he had almost lost hope of recovering his money because the suspects had been evasive.

The commission said in another development, N16.4 million was handed over to Benjamin Nwakaegho, who is a counsel to a complainant. 

“The complainant stated that the suspect had approached him as a property agent and was willing to help him sell his landed property. Based on trust, he gave the land documents to the agent who sold the land for N25 million but only remitted N5 million, claiming that the buyer was yet to complete payment,” the statement added. 

It noted that investigation showed that complete payment was made to the agent as the funds were traced to his account. 

Mr Nwakaegho also commended the EFCC for its professionalism in handling the case.