Operatives of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Office have arrested one of the internet fraudsters on the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, wanted list, Joseph Oyediran
He was picked up as part of an international crackdown on a syndicate of cyber criminals.
According to EFCC’s spokesman Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the Zonal Head of the commission Mr. Isyaku Sharu made known Oyediran’s arrest while giving an update on the EFCC/FBI collaboration in the fight against internet fraud and cyber crime.
He said: “Three weeks ago, the U.S. authority had written to us for assistance in tracking and possible arrest and prosecution of two most wanted FBI suspects in Nigeria.
“Investigation conducted by the EFCC revealed that Oyediran had benefited about N60 million from the loot via western union transfers.”
Uwujaren quoted Sharu in a press statement as saying that within seven months of its operations in Ilorin, the EFCC had revved up efforts to rid the country of cyber crime resulting in the arrest of more than 50 persons involved in internet fraud.
He said the commission had secured the conviction of 25 of them, recovered exotic cars from them, which were proceeds of their illegal activities adding that money recovered from them running into millions of naira were forfeited to the Federal Government.
He also revealed that some property linked to some of the cybercrime suspects, were traced to choice areas in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.
“They include supermarket, plaza, and so on, and the conservative value of the property cannot be less than N800 million to N1 billion.”
Uwujaren said that the acting Chairman, of the anti graft-body, Mr. Ibrahim Magu had expressed resolve to ensure that the agency effectively coordinated the Nigerian end of the investigation with the FBI.
Recall that the FBI recently released names of some 80 people indicted for internet fraud, 77 of whom were Nigerians.
The Bureau said most of the Nigerians had relocated back to the country.
