Following a sting operation, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 18 suspected Internet fraudsters, commonly called Yahoo Boys, in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement on Friday, gave the names of those arrested as Adeleye Ayodeji, Muhammed Ayub, Odelade Samuel, Sodiq Olanrewaju, Ola Francis, Adeniyi Damilare, Olalekan Samad, Tunde Ayodele, Zubair Buhari and Oladosu Naheem.
Others were Olowokere Jamiu, Lawal Usman, Jamiu Abdulrasaq, Lawal Ahmed, Opeyemi Samuel, Alarape Ahmed, Kolawole Daniel and Ganiyu Taofeek.
The EFCC spokesman said, “The suspects were smoked out of their hideouts at different locations following credible intelligence on the fraudulent activities of the fraudsters in Ilorin and its environs. Specifically, they were arrested at Sobi, Akerebiata and Las Vegas Estate, Asa Dam Road, Ilorin.
“The suspects, who are mostly in their early 20s, included six students of renowned tertiary institutions in the state, a footballer, a fashion designer, a bitcoin dealer, a laundryman and an online gambler.
“Upon arrest, five exotic cars, 32 different brands of mobile phones, eight laptops and other incriminating materials were recovered from them.
The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of ongoing investigations.”
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that The EFCC is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud (419 fraud) and money laundering. The EFCC was established in 2003, partially in response to pressure from the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF), which named Nigeria as one of 23 countries non-cooperative in the international community’s efforts to fight money laundering. The agency has its head office in Abuja, Nigeria.
On July 10, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the immediate suspension of Ibrahim Magu as acting chairman of the EFCC in a statement issued by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
President Muhammadu Buhari also approved that the EFCC Director of Operations, Mohammed Umar Abba, should take charge and oversee the activities of the Commission pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and further directives.
On 16 February 2021 Abdulrasheed Bawa was nominated as substantive chairman of EFCC by President Muhammad Buhari.