Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) have commenced investigations into the activities of a suspected serial fraudster and businesswoman, Stella Ezinne Egotanwa,  for allegedly defrauding twenty-one people N8.2 million under the pretext of assisting them to secure a job at Neo Psychiatric Hospital, Enugu.

The 45-year-old suspect was arrested on July 30, 2026, by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in  Anambra State, following a complaint by sixteen individuals who claimed that Ms Egotanwa lured them into believing that she was capable of securing jobs for them at the psychiatric hospital but failed to do so,  after paying her N6, 193 million. 

The suspect was handed over to the commission on August 26, 2026 for further investigation.

In the course of investigation by the EFCC operatives, additional five individuals submitted petitions against Ms Egotanwa, claiming that the suspect defrauded them the sum of N2. 98 million after promising to secure jobs for them at the same hospital.

One of the petitioners stated, “I paid the total sum of N1, 050, 000. 00 on December 28, 2025. I made the payment in good faith because I believed that the employment opportunity she presented to me was genuine. However, after making the payment, the promised employment did not materialise. I subsequently experienced difficulty reaching her and there were periods she did not respond to my calls or messages.”

Investigations showed that the suspect, awaiting trial in another similar case of alleged employment scam, allegedly obtained the said sum by false pretence from 21 victims between December 28, 2025 and June 30, 2026 using several accounts of different Point of Sale (POS) agents. She admitted committing the crime.

The commission said suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.