Tobias Sylvester
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied its involvement in the arrest of popular Instagram celebrity, Raymond Igbalode, popular known as Hushpuppi.
KanyiDaily had reported that Hushpuppi was arrested on Tuesday night over an alleged fraudulent COVID-19 ventilator deal that was said to be worth $35 million.
The Nigerian big boy who was arrested alongside his close friend, Mr Woodbery, were also accused of hacking into the United States (US) unemployed database and impersonating citizens qualified for unemployment funds.
He and his accomplices in Nigeria, Dubai and other countries allegedly defrauded the US of over $100 million meant for Native Americans in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.
ALSO READ: INTERPOL Uncovers €1.5 Million Face Masks Fraud Traced To An Account In Nigeria
During an interview on TVC News Journalists Hang out on Friday, the EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu said the commission is yet to be involved in the case.
“We are yet to be involved in the case of Hushpuppi, but if they happen to give us this thing (details) we would assist.” Magu said
The EFCC boss also denied allegations that the agency is mostly interested in the arrest and prosecution of internet fraudsters claiming that the Commission also rehabilitates the suspects arrested for internet fraud.
“We are not all about arresting, prosecuting and chasing internet fraudsters, and taking away the proceeds of their crime, but we are also trying to see whether we can rehabilitate them.
“Because most of these boys are either undergraduate or graduate from higher institutions, so they can be better people to our country. The menace of Yahoo boys is also a course of concern; we are collaborating with other law enforcement agencies.
“Yahoo boys have an association with their mothers who do not feel what their children are doing is a crime actually.
“It is called the “Yahoo Yahoo Mothers Association, a situation where the mother would go abroad and the child would stay there and help them syphon funds from credit card fraud.
“So we are doing everything possible to arrest the situation,” Magu concluded.
Meanwhile, the International Police (INTERPOL) has confirmed the arrest of Hushpuppi, adding that plans are underway to extradite the suspected fraudster from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) back to Nigeria to face alleged multiple fraud charges.
