The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered $169,850, N92 million and four exotic cars from 167 Yahoo Boys in 38 days in a joint operation with the United States’Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The operation, tagged ‘Operation Re-wired & Cybercrime-related Fraud’, was initiated following the indictment of 77 Nigerians for alleged cybercrime in the US.
Details shortly…
An FCT High Court on Thursday sentenced an internet fraudster, Chijioke Chinaka to four years in prison for internet fraud.
Delivering judgment, Justice Mohammed Idris, also sentenced three others to three years each for various cyber crimes.
Idris sentenced Kelvin Audu, Tunde Adeyemi and Onyeka Okafor to three years in prison each.
They were arraigned by Economic and Financial Crime Commission on various cyber crime offences.
The convicts pursuant to plea bargain agreement made on June 24, 2019 and the plea of guilty made, were convicted on July 22.
“Cyber crimes are flourishing amongst the youth to the extent that even secondary school students engage in it”
” I have read the plea bargain agreement it is not inconsistent with the court to adopt the agreement intoto.
” Courts have a duty to enforce the provisions of the Act under which an accused is charged,” Idris held.
He said the section in which they were charged which was section 322 provides;
” Whoever cheats shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both.”
He added that it was most appropriate that the prosecuting agencies arriagn the accused persons under the prosecution of the right law.
Idris further held that section 270 (11) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act empowers the court to impose heavier punishment other than the one agreed by the parties.
” I intend to go by that provision, consequently, the convict is hereby sentenced to a term of four years each on the four count charge to run concurrently” he held.
He ordered that proceeds from the crime and other things associated with it be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC ) on Monday arraigned nine people in an FCT High Court in Nyanya, charged with alleged internet frauds.
The defendants are Kelvin Audu, Kelly Iboyi, Rukeme Ejechi, Onyeka Okafor, Tunde Adeyemi, Chijioke Chinaka, Elvis Ikechukwu, Oghenemaro Ojike and Favour Ebebe.
They were arraigned on separate charges, bordering on internet fraud, popularly known as “yahoo yahoo’’.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants committed the offences,
inducing their victims, who are mostly foreigners via the internet and fraudulently extorting money from them.
EFCC said that most of these offences were committed between in 2019 in Abuja and that the offences contravened Sections 95, 320, 322 and 324 of the Penal Code.
All the defendants pleaded guilty to the allegations against them.
The EFCC prayed the court to sentence and convict the defendants, based on the plea bargain entered and signed by them.
The Judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, after listening to the EFCC lawyers and the defence lawyers, fixed various dates for sentencing.
The dates are July 25, July 29 and July 30.
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has deported 17 out of 29 persons arrested in Ho, the Volta Regional capital for their alleged involvement in cyber crimes, known in Nigeria as ‘yahoo, yahoo’.
According to The Ghanaian Times, the Nigerians were handed over to the GIS for screening, following their arrest to determine their immigration status.
The Ho Municipal Police Commander, DSP Anthony Danso, who briefed the Times on Tuesday, said it emerged that the deported persons did not have good immigration standing.
Those who were found to be legal residents of Ho, were released and reunited with their various communities.
Danso noted that some landlords leased houses to some Nigerians, who in turn used them for various nefarious activities, including cyber fraud.
During the raid, the police retrieved 33 laptop computers, two television sets, one wireless router and 20 cell phones as well some electronic gadgets.
It was a day of bountiful harvest for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office, on Thursday, June 20, 2019 as operatives of the Commission stormed hideouts of suspected internet fraudsters in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
The early morning raid led to the arrest of 27 men and four ladies suspected to be girlfriends of some of the arrested suspects.
Officials of the Commission have embarked on weeks of surveillance, working on series of intelligence gathered on the activities of suspected ‘Yahoo Boys’ in locations across the city.
The intelligence was found to be substantially credible, leading to the sting operation on Thursday.
Among those arrested are Adeleke Peter, Babalola Abiodun, Aduroja Temitope, Abdulazeez Razak, Adesina Adewale, Osayintoba Dare, Adebowale Fadairo, Abdulazeez Abdullahi, Akinseye Samuel and Osanyintoba Femi.
Others include: Austin Onyekachukwu, Oluwaseun Adesina, Ibosiola Olamilekan, Ayoola Lekan, Abdullahi Owopade, Olatunbosun Kolawole, Saheed Adebola, Osanyintoba Pelumi, Ayo Bello, Samuel Emmanuel, Olalekan Oladele, Solomon Mattew, Oyelude Opeyemi, Quadri Olatunji, Ibrahim Alao, Tunde Bello and Fatolu Temitope.
The Commission also recovered eight exotic cars including two Lexus and six Toyota brands, as well as many costly phones and laptops, among other items.
The suspects, who variously claimed to be graduates, students, computer engineers and businessmen, are currently undergoing interrogation to ascertain their level of involvement in the alleged act.
They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
A High Court, sitting in Ilorin on Thursday sentenced two applicants to one year in prison each for posing as white women to swindle job seekers.
The presiding judge, Justice Sikiru Oyinloye sentenced Johnson Okuselu, 23 and Saheed Olanrewaju, 25 after they pleaded not guilty without an option of fine.
Oyinloye said the sentence followed a plea bargain agreement, entered upon by the prosecution and defence counsel and the evidence admitted into court.
”Following the accused acceptance of guilt, I therefore sentence you to year in prison each in Oke-kura prison yard.
”The sentence will begin from April 28,” the judge held.
Earlier, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Counsel, Mr A.A. Adebayo told the court that sometimes in April, Okuselu pretended to be Ms Blessed Saviour, a white woman, who promised to provide a job in the U.S. to one Omni Guzman.
Adebayo said that the defendants used a gmail account; blessed.saviour000@gmail.com. to scam innocent people.
The offence, he added, contravened the provisions of sections 95, 321 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 322 of the same law.
Testifying, Mr Akanbi Sadiq, an investigator with the EFCC, told the court that on April 28, operatives of the commission, arrested the defendants at the Ilorin International Airport.
He said that when they were arrested, operatives seized an IPhone from Olanrewaju.
” When we searched the phone, we discovered that the defendant also created another email, using the name James Kaik, with email address, captainjameskaik@gmail. com.
“Using the picture of a white man, they deceived people into v=believing that they can get jobs for them,’ he testified.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwANGMbDaI7/
Sonorous singer, Simi has taken a shot at internet fraudsters who soil the image of Nigeria.
The Jamb Question crooner had previously urged young Nigerians who engage in internet fraud not to buy her songs or watch her videos on YouTube.
Simi in a new video posted on her Instastories, spoke extensively on the negative impact activities of ‘Yahoo boys’ has had on genuine Nigerians seeking international openings.
In her words: ”Guys they are laughing at us. Every other week, in some countries they are arresting Nigerians for fraud. It is breaking my heart the way people are fighting for and advocating for internet crime, come on guys they are laughing at us.
They are laughing at us. I am repeating it because I have seen it. Do you know how many Nigerians going into businesses or just even to get the smallest opportunity for themselves and they could not get it because they are Nigerians. That is the only excuse that they get”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv9JNzcHnI6/
The operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Office have arrested six `Yahoo’ boys and recovered five different models of exotic cars, laptops.
The Acting Head, Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr Tony Orilade, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said other items recovered from the suspects include mobile phones and several documents containing false pretenses from the suspects.
According to Orilade, the suspects are Tella Ibrahim, Awoniyi Abiodun, Oladele Wasiu, Olabiti Ajibola, Akeredolu Temidayo and Oyaremi Olabode.
“The raid on apartments within the Kolapo Ishola Estate in Akobo area of Ibadan led to the arrest of the six young men between the ages of 24 and 30.
“Series of intelligence gathered on them suggested that they are deeply involved in all manners of fraudulent activities, including love scam, through which they illegally obtain money from unsuspecting victims.
“They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed,’’ he said.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Port Harcourt Zonal Office have arrested six suspected internet fraudsters at their hotel hideout in Rumuigbo, Port Harcourt, Rivers.
A Press Statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the commission’s spokesman, Mr Tony Orilade said they were arrested in a sting operation.
According to the statement, the suspects comprises four men and two women; Oghenekewe Akinnawo, Kemka Amadi, Revelation Macaulay, Damilola Oyinloye, Mary Ndubuisi and Jennifer Vandi.
Orilade said that their arrest followed series of intelligence report linking them to alleged fraudulent activities ranging from love scam on numerous dating sites, obtaining money by false pretences and other fraud still being investigated.
“Several items were recovered from them at the point of arrest which includes three exotic cars, four iPhones, four laptops; one iPad, one iron sealed stamp; cheque books, car number plates and two un-used bullets.”
In a related development, the Enugu Zonal Office of the commission has arrested 13 suspects for allegedly engaging in cyber crime and internet fraud.
“Three of the suspects were arrested at Awka, Anambra State, following intelligence reports and surveillance carried out on them.
“Six were arrested at Ngwo in Enugu State, while four were arrested at an estate in Abakpa area of Enugu State.
“Items recovered from them include nine exotic cars, laptops, printers, cameras, phones, expensive drinks and other personal effects.”
The Zonal Head of the South East Zone of the commission, Ahmed Usman said: “we have resolved as part of carrying out the commission’s mandate to stamp out internet scams among others to help in rebuilding the image of the country.”
“Apart from public corruption which affects us locally, and denies us access to basic social amenities, Nigerians are treated badly because of the activities of cyber criminals and this gives us a bad name internationally.
“We are determined to stamp that out,” he said.
NAN