EFCC returns N114 million to microfinance bank defrauded by hackers

BENIN CITY, Oct 30 – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over a bank draft worth N114 million to a senior official of a microfinance bank defrauded by a suspect, Obumneme Bright, The Peoples Gazette reported.

In a statement on Friday, the commission said the recovery followed a petition filed by Samuel Ikechukwu, a top official of the unnamed bank, in August 2024. He alleged that a customer’s account had been hacked and money diverted.

The EFCC said its investigation traced the funds to several suspects, including Bright, who was arrested. It recovered N114 million from him and is pursuing the other suspects, who remain at large.

The Acting Zonal Director of the Benin Zonal Directorate, Deputy Commander of the EFCC Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, presented the draft to Ikechukwu on behalf of the bank on Thursday, October 29, 2026.

“Ikechukwu had, in August 2024, petitioned the commission that one of their customers’ accounts was fraudulently hacked and money moved from the account,” the statement said.

“During the investigation, the commission traced the funds to various suspects, including Obumneme Bright, who was subsequently arrested. Upon his arrest, the Commission recovered N114 million from him while being on the trail of other suspects.”