The Sokoto State command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), have arrested 23 alleged Internet fraudsters commonly called ‘Yahoo boys.
The Punch reports that a source said they were rounded up after a raid on Bafarawa Estate in Kalkalawa area of Sokoto metropolis.
According to the source, an Intelligence-driven observation along with intensive close monitoring proved that the young men are living above their means with no genuine source of income.
Which then led operatives of the anti-graft agency to swoop and arrest the suspects while investigations continued.
Those arrested include Joy Ofem, Azeez .o. Naimot, Ibrahim Amadu, Aigbekan Daniel, Adedayo Michael, Imran Mubaraq and Oliyide Habeeblah
Others include Wasiu Lukman Adekunle, Musa Abdulaziz, Abdullahi Ibrahim, Adejoh Nebiu Muhammad, Ibrahim Mubarak, Ahmed Ibrahim Abdullahi, Abdullahi Sanusi Adejoh and Umar Idris, Muhammad Nuhu, Faisal Ahmed, Aliyu Ismail, Elijah Adebayo, Abubakar Bashir, Sakariya Ibrahim, Balogun Abdulayyan as well as Buni Husaini.
Some of the items recovered include a Red Corolla Sport 2009, a White Corolla 2015, 16 different laptops, 1 Generator, 30 mobile phones and 2 MTN Routers.
The suspected yahoo boys will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded, the EFCC source said.
Meanwhile in related news…
The EFCC has revealed that it does not charge any fee before releasing detained suspects to lawyers or family members.
Acting Commander, Ibadan Zonal Command of the commission, Halima Rufa’u made this disclosure on Wednesday when she received the executive committee members of the Ibadan branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA led by its chairman, Folashade Aladeniyi.
She warned lawyers to desist from standing as “surety” and legal representative at the same time to suspects. Rufa’u explained that such an act could not only get them into trouble, but it also does not portray the legal profession in good light.
“In the event the suspect was released and later jumps administrative bail, the Commission will have no choice than to arrest the lawyer first, before going after other sureties”, Rufa’u warned.
On her part, Aladeniyi commended the EFCC for its efforts in curbing cybercrime and related fraud activities in Oyo State.
The NBA chairman said; “I want to commend the Ibadan Zonal Command and the EFCC at large for its activities towards curbing economic and financial crimes, especially cybercrime in the country. This is evident in the statistics of convictions secured by the Commission over the years”.
