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EFCC Bursts Syndicate of 792 Cryptocurrency Investment, Romance Fraud Suspects in Lagos … Arrests 193 Chinese, Arabs, Filipinos, Others

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The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that the Commission, in a landmark raid, arrested 792 suspects for their alleged involvement in cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scam.
The suspects were apprehended on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, in a surprise operation at their hideout, an imposing seven-storey edifice known as Big Leaf Building, on No.7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos , following verifiable intelligence received by the Commission .

Speaking during a media briefing on Monday, December 16, 2024, at the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Commission, Olukoyede stated that 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, two Kharzartans, one Pakistani, one Indonesian were arrested during the operation.

The EFCC’s boss, who spoke though the Director, Public Affairs, EFCC, Commander of the EFCC, CEWilson Uwujaren, further stated that the foreign nationals used the facility, which could be mistaken for a corporate headquarters of a financial establishment, to train their Nigerian accomplices on how to initiate romance and investment scams and also used the identities of their Nigerian accomplices to perpetrate their criminal activities.
According to him, “All the floors are equipped with high-end desktop computers. On the 5th floor alone, investigators recovered 500 SIM cards of local telcos that were bought for criminal purposes.

“ Their Nigerian accomplices were recruited by the foreign kingpins to prospect for victims online through phishing, targeting mostly Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, and several others from European countries.
“They usually arm them with desktop computers and mobile devices and create fake profiles for them.

“The Nigerian accomplices are equally provided with logs that allow them access to foreign communication lines and victims, which they chat with on WhatsApp, Instagram and Telegram.”

While giving further details about the modus operandi of the syndicate, the EFCC Chair said the Nigerian accomplices, who are assigned WhatsApp accounts linked to foreign telephone numbers, especially from Germany and Italy, engage victims in romantic conversations as well as phantom business and investment discussions to trick them to shop on the purported online investment shopping platform called www.yooto.com.

He added: “For those who show interest, activation fees for an account on the platform starts from $35USD.

“Investigation revealed that the criterion for recruiting these young Nigerians is proficiency in the use of computers, especially typing skill. Those who passed the test are given desktop computers and mobile devices and then taken through a two-week induction on how to personate foreign females in romance scam chats and convince victims to invest in their employers’ cryptocurrency investment scam.

“Once the Nigerians are able to win the confidence of would-be victims, the foreigners would take over the actual task of defrauding the victims and proceed to block their Nigerian accomplices from the network. This would then leave them in the dark about the transaction.”

He, however, said the Nigerians involved in the alleged fraudulent activities “do not know the owners of the ‘company’ they work for because they are not offered letters of appointments or receive payment from a corporate account.”

According to him, the suspected Nigerian accomplices are usually paid either in cash or through an individual’s account.

Olukoyede said the Commission was working with its foreign partners to establish the extent of the scam and the accomplices as well as the likelihood of any collaboration with organized international fraud cells.

The EFCC Chair also used the occasion to debunk the notion that Nigerians are behind the tonnes of frauds emanating from the country.

“Foreigners are taking advantage of our nation’s unfortunate reputation as a haven of frauds to establish a foothold here to disguise their atrocious criminal enterprises. But, as this operation has shown, there will be no hiding places for criminals in Nigeria,”he said.

Also speaking during the occasion , the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Commission, Michael Wetkas, sought greater collaboration with the media in the fight against corruption and economic and financial crimes.

Items recovered from the suspects include desktop computers, mobile phones, laptop computers and cars at the point of arrest.

The suspects will be charged to court after investigations are concluded.

Visit www.efcc.gov.ng for more stories

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Gunmen attack Amaechi’s convoy in Rivers, set ADC office ablaze

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A file picture of former Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Friday, called on security agencies to identify and arrest miscreants who attacked his convoy and set fire to the office of the African Democratic Congress in Ubima community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was gathered that gunmen, on Friday, attacked Amaechi’s convoy on the road between Ubima and Omuanwa in Ikwerre LGA.

The former Rivers State governor was in his community for his e-registration as a member of the ADC.

However, before Amaechi arrived in the community around 12:15 pm on Friday, suspected thugs had already mounted a roadblock, turning back buses identified as conveying ADC members attending the visit.

The thugs had earlier, on Thursday night, set ablaze the ward office of the ADC in Ubima, Amaechi’s hometown.

The miscreants, who reportedly invaded the community with heavy firepower to stop the former governor’s visit, shot sporadically into the community and riddled the gate of Amaechi’s family house with bullets.

However, when the ADC leader eventually arrived to enter the community, the armed thugs reportedly stopped his convoy, but security operatives in his team engaged the attackers.

When the security operatives displayed superior firepower, the armed thugs fled into the bushes.

Addressing hundreds of party members and supporters who were present to witness the e-registration exercise, Amaechi called for calm.

He thanked the Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services, and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for their swift intervention during the attack on his convoy.

Amaechi, who spoke after taking a tour of the burnt party office, said the security agencies showed professionalism in their response.

He urged members of the party not to resort to violence, noting that it was the responsibility of the police to unravel, arrest, and prosecute those behind the attacks.

“I will thank the commissioner of police and the director of DSS. They showed a lot of professionalism immediately I made contact with them.

“In fact, I wasn’t expecting that kind of cooperation. I thought they would be behind these criminals and not render support. But all of us will agree that the police came out, the NSCDC came, DSS came out.

“So we are grateful to them. I’m grateful to them, especially those of them who are here,” Amaechi stated.

He added, “But they must also know that this cannot continue. The way they will show us that this cannot continue is that they must prosecute those who are involved in this crime.”

Amaechi also urged the state governor to make efforts to provide adequate security across the state to avert anarchy.

He encouraged members of the party to commence massive mobilisation, noting that the party’s ultimate target was the presidency.

He said, “I have been a governor, and I know the consequences of not protecting the lives of people. The people will begin to protect their lives by themselves because they don’t want to die.

“But for now, everybody should calm down. Everybody should thank the Commissioner of Police. Everybody should thank the Director of SSS and the Commandant of NSCDC.

“Our role is to be calm, to be peaceful. We are marching to Aso Rock. What they are doing is a distraction. What they are doing will not put food on your table.

“We are hungry. If you are not hungry, tell them I am hungry. People are dropping dead every day because of hunger. And there are a few people who are stealing our money, and they say we should keep quiet.

“We can no longer keep quiet. ADC Rivers State, you must register en masse. You must make sure that we have enough members to surprise them. On election day, they will know whether we will vote or not.”

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she would obtain details of the incident and revert to our correspondent.

However, she had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report on Friday afternoon.

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Domestic violence: Cross River Assembly suspends lawmaker for allegedly ass@ulting his wife

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The Cross River State House of Assembly has suspended the member representing Obubra I State Constituency, Dickson Agbor, indefinitely over alleged violent conduct, punch reported.

According to journalist Agba Jalingo, the lawmaker ass@ulted his wife over accusations of infidelity.

He claimed that the incident occurred on Saturday, February 28, 2028 at the Assembly quarters.

The resolution was reached on Thursday, March 5, after a motion was moved by Davies Etta and seconded by Francis Bassey Asuquo.

Moving the motion, Etta condemned the alleged violent conduct involving Agbor, describing it as behaviour unbecoming of a lawmaker and contrary to the ethical standards expected of members of the legislative arm of government.

According to him, the House must take decisive steps to preserve the integrity and reputation of the Assembly.

The Assembly also approved the constitution of an ad hoc committee to investigate the matter and report its findings back to the House for further legislative action.

Following the resolution, Agbor was escorted out of the chamber by the Sergeant-at-Arms in compliance with the directive of the House.

Speaking on the development, the Speaker of the House, Elvert Ayambem, said the Assembly remained committed to upholding discipline, dignity and the integrity of the legislature.

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted suspended DCP Abba Kyari and his two brothers in a 23-count NDLEA case over alleged non-declaration of assets.

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted suspended DCP Abba Kyari and his two brothers in a 23-count NDLEA case over alleged non-declaration of assets.

Justice James Omotosho ruled that the prosecution presented insufficient evidence, calling their case “watery” and noting no proof linked Kyari to disputed properties in Abuja, Maiduguri, or Borno State.

The court criticized including Kyari’s brothers in the conspiracy charge, describing it as unsubstantiated and in bad faith.

The ruling covers only asset declaration allegations; other cases, including drug-related charges, remain ongoing.

Follow @ekwutosblog in all the social media platforms  for more updates

 

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