admin
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that the agency arrested hundreds of suspected internet fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo boys, within the last two months through sting operations.
Olukoyede made this known while speaking during an interview on Sunday Politics, a programme aired on Channels Television.
According to him, the arrests were carried out discreetly as part of reforms aimed at improving the professionalism of the commission’s operations.
“We have, as I just told you now, in the last two months, carried out hundreds of arrests of Yahoo boys on sting operations,” he said.
The EFCC chairman explained that many of the suspects could not be apprehended in open places or broad daylight, necessitating carefully planned and intelligence-driven operations.
“There are some of these guys you can’t see in broad daylight. They don’t come out in the broad daylight, so you have to plan your operations very professionally,” he stated.
Olukoyede added that most of the suspects were often found in hotels and apartments rather than their personal residences, saying, “There are some of them that you don’t find in their houses. Most times, you find them in hotels and apartments.”
He assured Nigerians that EFCC operations would continue to follow legal procedures, stressing that the commission is empowered by law to effect arrests without warrants when necessary.
“We have the power to do so. Our law enables us and empowers us to do that,” Olukoyede stressed.
“Anytime, any day. We effect an arrest without a warrant. The badge I carry is my warrant to effect an arrest. Look, if I had to break down a door for me to effect an arrest, I would do that. And you see the FBI do, you see them do that, you see the NCA do that. So why is that our own different?” he added.
The EFCC boss said that similar approaches are adopted by foreign law enforcement agencies such as the FBI and the UK’s National Crime Agency.
He also revealed that the EFCC has been called to carry out joint operations with counterparts abroad and also he had received calls of the direct FBI in his office to acknowledge what they do.
“We have had cause to carry out joint operations with our counterparts abroad, FBI, NCA, and the records are there. Professionally, we have been given laurels.
“I, as a person, have had cause to receive the Director of the FBI in my office to acknowledge what we do here in this office. He came from America to acknowledge our work.”
Olukoyede called on Nigerians to support the EFCC, saying its efforts were geared towards fighting corruption and ensuring national progress.
“So if foreigners acknowledge what we do, what about Nigerians? Why can’t we allow these institutions to survive? If we have been complaining that corruption is our problem. Look, nobody is perfect, and you’re not going to get any perfect institution anywhere in the world. We have our shortcomings, but with our modest achievements, Nigerians should support us. Because this thing we do is for Nigeria, it’s for the progress of this country.”
