The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed that 113 out of 127 suspected internet fraudsters, popularly known as yahoo boys, arrested in Ondo State where they were holding a night party have been indicted.

The EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, who disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing in Abuja said that 80 of them had been charged to court already while the remaining ones would be charged to the court next week.

The EFCC had in the early hours of June 8 raided and arrested 127 suspected internet fraudsters during a “Yahoo Party” held simultaneously at Signature and Abah Clubs in Akure, Ondo state capital.

The agency in a statement had said that credible intelligence indicated the party was initially scheduled for June 5, but was postponed to June in an attempt to evade the commission’s security and intelligence networks.

According to EFCC, various items were recovered from them, including ten exotic cars, phones, laptops, a motorcycle, wristwatches, and many incriminating documents.

Giving more insight and update on the matter, the EFCC boss said the 127 suspects arrested at the Yahoo party came from nine local government areas of the state.

He said, “As it is now, we brought in 127 of them, suspected and we discovered that 113 of them were indicted. We have filed charges against almost 80 of them. The remaining will have their dates in court.” 

Olukoyede further said, “In the Lagos operation, over 100 people have been indicted. We have pressed charges against 50 of them. We will press the remaining charges by next week. We have been on their trail. We have mounted surveillance.”

He said it is important for Nigerians to understand the menace cybercrime is causing to Nigeria and the problems the country and its people are facing.

Giving an example of such a problem, he said, “I traveled about two weeks ago. I was in a country in South Asia and I wanted to pay for my hotel accommodation when a White guy who was in front of me brought out his card to make payment and they got the payment.

“Then it was my turn and I gave them my card, they slotted it in, deducted the money, made the payment and went to another office and made a photocopy of my card, front and back.

“When I asked the lady why she made a photocopy of my card when she didn't do it to the other White guy, she said, ‘yes sir, because this is a Nigerian card’.

“She said that they have a standing instruction that any time they see a Nigerian card, they must suspect, so, they have to make a photocopy so that they will be sure that I'm actually the owner of the card.

“Knowing who I am, if you see the shame and the embarrassment. These are the cases we want to stop.”

Citing another example, Olukoyede said, “A friend of mine who has been in the US for over 30 years told me sometime ago that he came to Nigeria and wanted to transfer money from one of his US accounts to another account, they blocked the account there.

“He called his account officer and asked why they blocked his account. His account officer said it was because the IP address of where he was carrying out the transfer showed Nigeria. 

“They know he is the owner of the account but he had to go there to reactivate the account. This is why we said enough is enough. Let us clean this system because of your future.

“If you carry our green passport to other countries, you will see the kind of shame you will be subjected to. That is what we are trying to change. We will change this trajectory. We will give Nigeria a good international image.”

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