Mr. Ola Olukoyede, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), announced that the agency has obtained 500 convictions since the anti-graft agency began cracking down on internet fraudsters.
The EFCC chairman stated this during a meeting with a delegation from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
According to EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale, Olukoyede highlighted the EFCC’s role as one of Nigeria’s top anti-corruption agencies, with a specific focus on investigating cybercrimes. He emphasized the agency’s success in obtaining convictions, with over 500 achieved in just the past few months.
His words: “EFCC, apart from the police, is one of the prominent, specialized anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria that has the mandate to investigate cybercrimes, and we have been doing that.
“In the last few months, we have secured over 500 convictions in cybercrimes. Over the years, we have had cause to collaborate with (America’s) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and other prominent law enforcement agencies in the world in the area of combating cybercrime.
“We are much ready to do more and also to encourage the heads of the world to give access to information.”
Mr. Craig Jones, the leader of the Interpol delegation, recognized the increasing awareness of cybercrime as a threat to national security.
He pointed out that cybercrimes are often financially motivated and have a significant impact on countries and communities.
“I think many countries now recognize that cybercrime is actually a national security threat to countries.
“This goes hand in hand with financial crimes because the main motivation of cybercrime normally for the criminals is that financial gain and the impact that it makes on the countries and our communities is massive,” he stated.
