The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Thursday, April 1, 2021, handed over the sum of ¥370,000 Japanese Yen recovered from a fraudster to the Japanese victim through officials of the Japanese Embassy, Abuja.

The money was recovered by the EFCC following a complaint by one Hatsumi Ozeki on January 19, 2019.

The investigation established that Ozeki was duped by one Evans Ewean-Obayagbona but the proceeds of crime were wired to him through the accounts of his accomplices- Samson Okonofua, Osifo Onaiwi-Kelly and Igbenedion Iyobor Mikel.

Speaking while handing over the money to officials of the Japanese Embassy at the EFCC headquarters, Abuja, the Director of Operations, Abdulkarim Chukkol, reiterated the Commission’s commitment to the fight against cybercrime and other forms of financial crimes. He said the agency is poised to sanitize the nation’s financial system to ensure a conducive investment climate for foreign investors.

On his part, the representative of the Japanese Embassy expressed appreciation to the EFCC for the feat in recovery the money and commended the agency’s commitment to fighting corruption.

An earlier version of the story had been published in error by the antigraft agency. The EFCC in its statement on Wednesday acknowledged the mix-up in their earlier report which indicated that the sums of ¥370, 000 and $1,800 USD were recovered and handed over to the Japanese victim of fraud through the Japanese Embassy, Abuja.

The agency however clarified that though the two sums were recovered in the case, only ¥370, 000 was for the Japanese victim and that sum was handed over through the Japanese Embassy.

The $1,800 USD on the other hand belongs to another victim.