By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Enugu Zonal Command, has recovered the sum of N1,310, 464.58 from the account of one Mrs Christiana Okafor who is alleged to be a dead local government worker.

The money was handed over to the chairman, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Mr Leo Nwuba.

Information has it that the deceased salary account with GMB Microfinance Bank Limited was still active even after her death.

It was gathered that the recovery followed a petition from her bank in July against the husband and next-of-kin, Mr Ifeka Vincent Kenechukwu, alleging that the late Okafor was still earning salary, despite the report that she died on May 12, 2020.

Receiving the recovered fund, the Chairman of Awka South LGA thanked the Commission for its professionalism, saying: “I want to first express my gratitude to the Commander and his men.

“I admire your simplicity and the way you relate to people. It is different from the way the public sees the EFCC. We need to change the narrative about the EFCC.

“Today I can attest that the EFCC is truly a friend to the public. With this singular action, I believe that people will now realize that asides prosecution, the EFCC recovers money for the Government which will in turn be used for the benefit of mankind.”

The Zonal Commander, Mr Oshodi Johnson, commended the staff of the Economic Governance Section who worked tirelessly to recover the money and ensured that it was returned to the local government where it belongs. “I want to thank my men in the Economic Governance Section led by ACE 11 Effiong Ekerendu who put in the work to recover this money for your local government. To some, this money may look small, but we as a government agency understand that no amount is small when it comes to government money,” he said.

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