- Suspect allegedly collected money from applicants seeking employment at Enugu psychiatric hospital, admits wrongdoing, agency says
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigations into a businesswoman, Stella Ezinne Egotanwa, over the alleged defrauding of 21 job seekers of ₦8.29 million under the pretext of securing employment for them at Neo Psychiatric Hospital in Enugu State.
The EFCC’s Enugu Zonal Directorate disclosed that the 45-year-old suspect allegedly collected a total of ₦8,291,200 from the victims between December 28, 2025, and June 30, 2026, using several accounts operated by different Point of Sale (POS) agents.
According to the commission, 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 who alleged that she had promised to secure jobs for them at the psychiatric hospital but failed to fulfil the promise after collecting their money.
The initial complainants reportedly paid her ₦6,193,000 in connection with the purported employment opportunities.
The suspect was subsequently handed over to the EFCC on August 26, 2026, for further investigation.
The commission said five additional petitioners came forward during its investigation, alleging that Egotanwa had collected another ₦2,098,200 from them after making similar promises of employment at the same hospital.
The additional complaints brought the number of alleged victims to 21 and the total amount involved to ₦8.29 million.
One of the petitioners told investigators that the suspect collected ₦1.05 million from the individual on December 28, 2025, after presenting what appeared to be a genuine employment opportunity.
“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,” the petitioner said.
The petitioner alleged that the promised employment never materialised and that subsequent attempts to contact the suspect proved difficult.
“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 petitioner added.
The EFCC further disclosed that Egotanwa was already awaiting trial in another similar case involving an alleged employment scam.
According to the commission, the suspect admitted committing the alleged offence during the course of the investigation.
The agency said she would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The case highlights the risks faced by job seekers who pay intermediaries for purported employment opportunities, particularly where such offers have not been independently verified with the relevant institutions.
The EFCC has yet to announce the filing of fresh charges in the matter, as investigations continue.
