The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has expressed concern over the rate of internet fraud in the country.
Olukoyede, during a media briefing at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja today, said internet fraudsters, popularly known as yahoo-yahoo boys, are bringing national shame to the country.
According to him, Yahoo-Yahoo boys are denying Nigerians the opportunity to be seen as clean before immigration officers around the world. He said officers look at Nigerians with some reservation and even take many aside to carry out some special scrutiny.
Speaking further on the atrocities of fraudsters, the EFCC chairman stressed that they are involved in banditry and kidnapping when their unsuspecting victims do not cooperate.
He also noted that the fraudsters are now involved in laundering money for politically-exposed persons in government or out of government, citing the case of a 22-year-old boy who after his arrest, was discovered to have had a turnover of over N5 billion within 18 months.
The chairman emphasised the need to uphold professionalism and integrity in the fight against corruption, adding that the EFCC’s workforce would turn out to be a critical mass of honest, highly motivated and effective team.
