Benue man Defrauds Journalist of over ₦4.1 Million in Garri Deal

A Journalist and young entrepreneur from Ebonyi State, Alefia Friday James, has accused a Benue-based agribusinessman, Kenneth Eche-Ija Eyikwodani, of allegedly defrauding him of ₦4,126,000 in a failed agricultural supply transaction.

According to James, the incident occurred in June 2025 when he entered into an agreement with Eyikwodani for the supply of 55 bags of 100kg garri, which was to be delivered from Benue State to Anambra State.

James claims that full payment was made to Eyikwodani, who had presented himself as a legitimate player in the agribusiness sector.

However, despite receiving the complete payment, Eyikwodani allegedly failed to deliver the goods and has since been unreachable or evasive, offering various excuses and ultimately cutting off communication.

“I paid him in full after he promised to deliver the garri promptly,” James said. “Since then, he has refused to either deliver the goods or refund the money. I have all the receipts and proof of payment.”

James also shared phone numbers linked to Eyikwodani, which have reportedly become unreachable:

+234 806 967 7277
+234 707 138 5506

He further provided a link to Eyikwodani’s Facebook profile, which remains active, as part of his effort to warn others:
🔗 Eyikwodani’s Facebook Profile

The matter is yet to be officially investigated by law enforcement, but James says he is preparing to take legal action. He has appealed to the public, especially those in the agribusiness community, to exercise caution when engaging in transactions with unfamiliar parties.

“This is not just about my money,” he said. “I’m speaking out so that others don’t fall into the same trap.”