Tobias Sylvester
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday announced the arrest of a top internet fraudster wanted by United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over $46 million fraud and money laundering case.
The FBI had announced a massive bust of about 80 Nigerian internet fraud who are charged with cybercrime-related offences amounting to over $46 million.
One of the suspects, Oyediran Joseph, has been arrested and paraded by Nigeria’s anti-graft agency in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The head, Ilorin Zonal Office of EFCC, Sharu Isyaku, announced the arrest of Oyediran Joseph during a press conference on Friday, 30th August 2019, where he confirmed that the arrest was part of EFCC’s partnership with the FBI.
#Alert One of the internet fraudsters wanted by the FBI, Joseph Oyediran, arrested by EFCC operatives in Ilorin, Kwara State. Head, EFCC Ilorin Zonal Office, Isyaku Sharu, disclosed this at a press conference to give update on EFCC/FBI collaboration against internet fraud. pic.twitter.com/RH5Diidq5y
— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC) August 30, 2019
The suspect was not part of 77 others who were listed in the recent FBI list of 80 notorious Nigerian internet scammers.
Iyaku added revealed that “the 36-year-old suspect had illegally benefitted about N60 million from the loot via Western Union Transfer.
“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,” Isyaku said.
“The Commission acceded 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 said it continued its efforts at rooting out online scammers. The official also spoke about arrests and convictions that the outfit had secured in the last few months.
“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 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 stated.
