How EFCC Nabbed 419 Kingpins In Owerri, Ilorin, Port Harcourt

Operatives of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have made big hauls in the last two days, by arresting dreaded fraudsters.

EFCC operatives from the Ilorin Zonal Office, had arrested Joseph Oyediran, one of the internet fraudsters wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

EFCC’s spokesman Mr Wilson Uwujaren in a statement in Abuja on Friday quoted the Zonal Head of the commission, Mr Isyaku Sharu as disclosing this latest hursting.

He spoke while giving an update on the EFCC/FBI collaboration in the fight against internet fraud and cybercrime.

He said: “Three weeks ago, the U.S. authority had written to us for assistance in tracking and possible arrest and prosecution of two most wanted FBI suspects in Nigeria.

“Investigation conducted by the EFCC revealed that Oyediran had benefited about N60 million from the loot via western union transfers.

EFCC Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu had expressed resolve to ensure that the anti-graft agency effectively coordinated the Nigerian end of the investigation with the FBI. He said that within seven months of its operations in Ilorin, the EFCC had revved up efforts to rid the country of cybercrime resulting in the arrest of more than 50 persons involved in internet fraud. “We have also secured the conviction of 25 of them, recovered exotic cars from them, which were proceeds of their illegal activities,” he said. Vanguard

Earlier, the agency’s men from the Port Harcourt Zonal Office had arrested two suspected internet fraudsters equally linked to the collaborative efforts of EFCC and the FBI.

READ ALSO: ‘The Way Nigerians Protested In S/Africa Unfortunate’

“The suspects were separately arrested in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Owerri, Imo State. “One of them, Ogbonnah Atoukaritou, a leader of a loose syndicate of fraudsters allegedly engaged in Business Email Compromise, was arrested in Port Harcourt”.

The other suspect, Alpha Chidi Egbeonu, allegedly suspected to be involved in defrauding a US-based victim, Goldberg Segalla LLP and other yet to be identified victims, was arrested in Owerri.

 “Items recovered from the suspects include laptops, android phones, land documents, hard disks, Central Processing Unit, warehouse, and a recently built house, now attached by the EFCC.

 “The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” according to a statement by EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwugaren.