Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has paraded one
of the most wanted suspected internet fraudsters by the United
States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Ilorin, Kwara
state.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Friday, the Ilorin zonal
head of the commission, Sharu Isyaku, who said that the 36-year-old
suspect, Oyediran Joseph, was arrested in Ilorin, added that “the
suspect had benefitted about N60 million from the loot via Western
Union Transfer”.
It is recalled that the FBI had reportedly arrested no fewer
than 78 Nigerians in the USA involving in internet fraud and
cybercrime-related offences amounting to millions of US
Dollars.
Mr Isyaku, who said that the Ilorin zonal office of EFCC covers
Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti states, added that “just last three weeks,
the US authority had written to us for assistance in tracking and
possible arrest and prosecution of two most wanted FBI suspects in
Nigeria. The commission accedes to their request.
“The commission has been supportive of the activities of the FBI
and every other foreign counterpart whose responsibility is similar
or analogous to ours”.
EFCC head also said that the zone had traced four properties
linked to some cybercrime suspects in choice areas to Ado-Ekiti,
Ekiti state.
He said the properties include supermarket and plaza put in the
region of between N800 million to N1 billion.
“Within seven months of our operation, the Ilorin zonal office
has independently arrested over 58 suspected internet fraudsters,
secured conviction of 25 and got forfeiture of their exotic cars
and money running into millions of Naira to the federal
government.
“We all know it is an image that sells a product and nothing
else. Our strength as a nation is dependent on the vibrancy of our
economy which is a common denominator binding us together.
Businesses worldwide are being conducted through the medium of
cyber, this underscores the need for all of us to come together in
fighting the scourge of internet fraud and cybercrime with a view
to making the cyberspace well-fortified so that foreign investors
can come in and invest to further boost our economy”, he said.
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