Enugu businesswoman accused of defrauding 21 people of N8.29 million under pretext of securing jobs for them

 

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 -The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has started investigating a businesswoman, Stella Ezinne Egotanwa, for allegedly defrauding 21 people of N8.29 million under the pretext of securing employment for them at a Psychiatric Hospital in Enugu State. The commission said the 45-year-old suspect allegedly collected the money from the victims between December 28, 2025, and June 30, 2026, using accounts belonging to

 different Point of Sale (POS) agents. 

The EFCC disclosed this in a statement via its X handle on Tuesday, October 20, adding that Egotanwa was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Anambra State on July 30, 2026, following a complaint by 16 individuals. 

According to the commission, the initial complainants alleged that the suspect collected ₦6.193 million from them after promising to secure jobs at the psychiatric hospital but failed to fulfil the promise. 

The statement reads in part: “In the course of investigation by operatives of the EFCC, additional five individuals submitted petitions against Egotanwa, claiming that the suspect defrauded them the sum of N2, 098, 200 (Two Million, Ninety-eight Thousand, Two Hundred Naira), after promising to secure jobs for them at the same hospital.” 

The EFCC said the additional petitions brought the number of alleged victims to 21 and the total amount involved to ₦8,291,200. 

Recounting the experience of one of the petitioners, the commission quoted the individual as saying: “I paid the total sum of N1, 050, 000. 00 on December 28, 2025. I made the payment in good faith because I believed that the employment opportunity she presented to me was genuine.

“However, after making the payment, the promised employment did not materialise. I subsequently experienced difficulty reaching her and there were periods she did not respond to my calls or messages.” 

The commission further alleged that Egotanwa was awaiting trial in another case involving a similar employment scam.

It added that the suspect had admitted committing the alleged offence and would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.