EFCC Returns N36 Million To school In Port-Harcourt

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) returned a sum of N36,186,012 to Jephtah International School, East-West Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as money recovered from three suspected fraudsters who diverted the school’s money for their private use.

Mrs. Ifeoma Chukwuogo, proprietress was present to receive the money as she thanked the EFCC for its swift response and called on Nigerians to give more support to the commission.

The suspects include Cyril Ameh Idakwoji, an employee of a new generation bank, who was the account officer of the school; Boma Obama Chisom, who posed as the Customer Relations Officer of the bank and Aderemi Adebayo Moses, who prints fake documents.

Presenting the money to the proprietor, the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of Operations of the EFCC, Mr. Ishaq Salihu, disclosed that apart from the cash recovery, the commission, in the course of investigation, also recovered other suspected proceeds of crime, including a three-bedroom and two two-bedroom bungalows.

He commended the bank for promptly reporting the case. The matter was reported on September 7, after the school’s cheques could not be honored for days.

Salihu explained that at the beginning of every new term, Idakwoji would visit the school to collect fees paid in cash and cheque by parents, and issue deposit slips to the school. Investigations showed that he only lodged the cheques but diverting the cash collected for his personal use. Besides, Idakwoji issued doctored statements of account to the school in a bid to cover up his nefarious actions.

Salihu further disclosed that another accomplice of Idakwoji, Moses, printed fake letterheads of another organization, where he is also the account officer and was using their money to pay Jephtah International School’s workers salaries.