The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, on Tuesday said the commission in joint operations with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, has recovered the sum of $314,000 from computer-related fraudsters.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, Magu said in addition to the recovered sum, additional N373m had been traced to various commercial banks by the Lagos Zonal office of the Commission.
The EFCC Chairman who spoke through the Zonal Head, EFCC, Lagos, Mohammed Rabo, further disclosed that nine of the suspects were currently undergoing trial, while five were still under investigations.
He also disclosed that 28 arrests have been made from the recent joint operations coordinated by the Commission adding that 14 suspects had been prosecuted and convicted.
He further stated that “over 80 cases are still under investigation from the EFCC-FBI joint operations.”
“From 2018 to date, the EFCC had launched a sustained operation on perpetrators of various computer-related fraud, which resulted in over 200 arrests, 130 convictions and recovery of a large number of exotic cars and properties suspected to have been acquired through the proceeds of crime.
“We had independently launched intensive investigative actions against the infamous yahoo yahoo boys culminating in various strategic raids and onslaught on their hideouts.
“Our efforts in this regard have recorded tremendous successes leading to a number of arrests, prosecutions and convictions,” he said.
The EFCC boss enjoined the media to continue lending its voice to the fight against corruption and economic and financial crimes, saying “no one has the monopoly of knowledge of how the fight should be fought and won.
“All the critical stakeholders, particularly the media, must continue to collaborate and cooperate with us to make the fight a success.
“I urge you to continue to help us sensitize, mobilize and educate all the critical stakeholders to continue to support the fight against economic and financial crimes. We must collectively strive to achieve the Nigeria of our dream.
“It is very critical for you to understand that you owe the youth that social responsibility of awakening their consciousness to the importance of a noble life devoid of crimes.”
