An official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Miracle Essien James, has refunded the full sum of ₦9,480,000 to an Abuja-based administrative staff, identified as Christiana Oluyomi, after allegedly defrauding her in a failed house rent deal.
Oluyomi confirmed that she received the complete refund following months of unsuccessful attempts to recover her money.
“I have just received the full refund of the ₦9,480,000 I paid… Honestly, this brings me immense joy,” she said, expressing relief.
Media Intervention Forces Breakthrough
The victim credited Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) for playing a decisive role in securing the refund after earlier efforts proved futile.
According to her, the situation only changed after FIJ published an investigative report on April 15 detailing the alleged fraud.
“Without FIJ’s intervention, I don’t think I would have been able to recover the money,” she added.
How the Alleged Scam Unfolded
FIJ reported that Oluyomi was introduced to an apartment in Abuja by Miracle Essien James, who posed as a house agent.
After inspecting the property and agreeing on terms, she paid ₦9.48 million for the rent. However:
She was never given access to the apartment
Keys were not handed over on the agreed date
All attempts to contact James initially failed
The development raised suspicions of fraud, prompting her to report the case to the police.
EFCC Steps In After Public Exposure
Although the suspect was initially identified and nearly detained, an EFCC official reportedly intervened to secure his release, slowing down the process.
In the weeks that followed, James allegedly made repeated promises to refund the money, including an initial ₦4 million payment, but failed to fulfill them.
However, after the FIJ report gained traction, the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission intervened, reportedly inviting James and ordering him to refund the full amount.
Accountability Questions
The incident has raised fresh concerns about internal accountability within the anti-graft agency, especially given the involvement of one of its own officials in an alleged fraud case.
While the refund has brought relief to the victim, observers say the case underscores the need for stronger oversight and transparency within public institutions.
The EFCC has yet to publicly comment on any disciplinary action against the official as of the time of this report.
