EFCC arrests four Chinese, 101 others for suspected online fraud in Abuja.
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it has arrested four Chinese nationals and 101 Nigerians for suspected online fraud in Abuja.
According to the Commission, the suspects were arrested at a commercial flat in Gudu area of Abuja on Thursday, January 9, 2025.
The EFCC said this was in continuation of its efforts to cleanse the country of online fraud and other acts of corruption.
"The suspects, consisting of 67 men (including four Chinese) and 38 women, were allegedly involved in a hospitality scam targeting victims and hotels in Europe and other parts of the world.
"The suspects will be brought to justice after investigations," the Commission said. Involvement of foreigners in fraud in Nigeria
As Nigeria struggles to rehabilitate its international image due to its labeling as a haven for internet fraudsters, recent developments point to a more dangerous dimension with the increasing number of foreigners committing crimes in the country .
Last month, the EFCC arrested 792 suspects for their alleged involvement in cryptocurrency investment scams and romance scams in Lagos State, including 148 Chinese trainers.
The distribution of foreigners in the network also includes 40 Filipinos, two Harzartans, one Pakistani and one Indonesian. According to the Commission, the foreign nationals used a building, which could be mistaken for the headquarters of a financial institution, to train their Nigerian associates on how to run romance and investment scams and also used the identity of its Nigerian associates to carry out its operations. criminal activities. She added that all floors are equipped with high-end desktop computers. On the 5th floor alone, investigators found 500 SIM cards from local telecommunications companies that were purchased for criminal purposes. Clean from within
Meanwhile, the EFCC recently revealed that it had dismissed 27 officers in 2024 for involvement in fraudulent activities and professional misconduct.
According to the Head of the Media and Publicity Commission, Dele Oyewale, the dismissals followed the recommendations of the EFCC Staff Disciplinary Committee and were ratified by the Commission's Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede.download (62).jpeg
The EFCC has also issued a warning against the activities of impersonators and blackmailers who are using the name of its Executive Chairman to extort money from persons under investigation. The commission disclosed that two members of an alleged syndicate, Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, were recently arraigned before Justice Jude Onwuebuzie of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja. The couple allegedly contacted Mr. Mohammed Bello-Kaka, former Director General of the Nigerian Ports Authority, demanding $1 million for "Olukoyede to enable a soft landing" as part of a non-existent investigation.
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