Nigeria: EFCC arrests

[De Master Yoda]

EFCC arrests 16 in Akure, Onitsha cyber cafe raids

From Okodili Ndidi and Yinka Oladoyinbo - 03.04.2008

Nigerian Tribune.

Men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arrested 16 suspected cyber fraudsters as they raided cyber cafes in Akure, Ondo State and Onitsha, Anambra State.

While 10 were arrested in Akure, six were arrested in Onitsha where several units of computers were confiscated.

In Akure, apart from the ‘yahoo boys’, owners of some of the cafes were also arrested, while many computer sets and other accessories were impounded by the detectives.

The raid, which affected cafes on Oyemekun Road and Oba Adesida Road, according to sources, was part of efforts at eradicating internet fraud in the state.

This was said to have followed reports that the internet fraudsters that were chased away from Lagos, Ibadan and other cities had relocated to Akure.

Many of the victims were caught unawares by the invasion of the detectives, as they were said to be involving in the act when they were arrested.

The EFCC team was said to have arrived Akure on Monday and mixed with the customers of cafes notorious for cyber crimes.

Those arrested were later locked up at the cells of the “A” Division of the Ondo State Police Command.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ondo State Police Command, Mr. Adeniran Aremu, confirmed that the EFCC was in the town to carry out the operation.

In Onitsha, the EFCC men, who came in an unmarked Toyota Hilux van, cordoned off the road leading to the famous Main Market, pounced on the operators, who were browsing at the cafe, questioned and searched them.

The leader of the squad said they were on a routine check and would release the arrested persons after interrogations.

A source told the Nigerian Tribune that the EFCC officials were acting on a tip off, adding that the cyber cafe had of late become a haven for youths who storm the place daily to send and access scam mails.

[De Master Yoda]

Efcc Storms Benin And Yahoo Boys Jump From Roof Tops! Yahoo boys another name for scammers.
« on: April 03, 2008, 05:02 PM »

EFCC storms benin and see yahoo boys jump from roof tops,some broke their legs and some disolcated their waist,Men na wa oh see wetin boys de go tru to impress girls, My fellow Nairalanders wot do you guys feel? Is it really worth the risk of gettin shot or dying so you can impress these girls because i know no be boys them they try impress.
I hail oh Quote from a poster on a Nigerian website.

please view the attached pictures.

http://antifraudintl.org/imagehosting/4047fb418645e9f.jpg

http://antifraudintl.org/imagehosting/4047fb418656213.jpg

[De Master Yoda]

Fred Ajudua Jumps Bail, Resists and Escapes Arrest PDF Print
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has attempted in the night of Thursday, 20th March 2007, to re-arrest suspected 419 kingpin, Fred Ajudua at his Ibusa, Delta State hometown.

Ajudua who has been standing trial at the High Court, Ikeja, Lagos, was granted bail after a protracted legal battle, to seek medical attention in India, on 3rd February 2005, on the condition that he would make himself available for continuation of his trial for mega scams, on return from India.

However, while claiming that he is still on admission, Ajudua who is also wanted to answer to fresh charges of 419, has been holding court at Ibusa, Delta State. At each hearing of the case on trial, Ajudua’s lawyers have presented medical reports that he was still undergoing treatment in India. They have in fact stated that the accused was on admission and about to undergo a major surgery. However, information got to the Commission that the man supposed to be in critical condition in India, was being seen at various social gatherings. That intelligence led to the attempt by the Commission’s operatives to arrest him at a popular beer parlour in Ibusa. Unfortunately, the move was thwarted by his armed thugs.

The Commission wishes to bring to the attention of all that Fred Ajudua, one of the most celebrated 419 suspects of all time, is a fugitive from justice wanted for continuation of his trial for 419 and re-arraignment in court. Anyone with information that could lead to his arrest should get in touch with the EFCC, immediately.

By Osita Nwajah
Head, Media & Publicity

[De Master Yoda]

Cyber café crime: Presidency sets up special commission
17 March, 2008 01:00:00 Tunji OLAWUNI, Abuja

From 'Business Day.
image Inspector-general of Police, Mike Okiro

Worried by the negative effect operators of cyber cafes pose to investment, the Federal Government has raised a separate body known as National Cyber Crimes Commission to specifically fight activities of cyber crimes.
Already, a bill to give legal teeth to the establishment of the commission has been finalised and will soon be forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration.
In the interim, according to a source, the presidency has appointed a director to coordinate the activities of the new commission. The director in charge of the commission, it was learnt, will be operating from the office of the National Security Adviser to the president pending when the bill is passed into law by the National Assembly.
It was learnt that the decision of the Federal Government to establish the new commission followed its conclusion that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) cannot handle the cyber crimes in addition to its other responsibilities effectively.
According to the source, government is concerned about the negative impact the activities of the cyber criminals, popularly known as “Yahoo boys” are having on the government as well as the negative effect on investment.
It was learnt that the new commission when established would beam its searchlight on cyber criminals, mostly youths who daily browse the internet to defraud foreigners. The source said government was alarmed at the increase of cyber café crimes and felt a separate agency had to be set up to handle the issue effectively.
A clean copy of the bill is expected to be forwarded next week to the National Assembly while the presidency is said to be involved in putting pressure on the leadership of both chambers to ensure quick passage of the bill into law.

[De Master Yoda]

In Nigeria, Yahoo Boys picked up by EFCC Raids

From garwarner.blogspot.com

Cyber Cafes in Akure in the state of Ondo, and Onitsha, in the state of Anambra were raided today. The locals have a term for the type of cyber criminal who lurks in these cafes. They call them "yahoo boys".


(image from "Hey CyberCafe" in Onitsha, not included in the raid, just a sample picture of an Onitsha-based cybercafe)
http://antifraudintl.org/imagehosting/4047fc6e314b135.gif

In Akure, agents of the EFCC (Econonmic and Financial Crimes Commission), acting as customers, mingled about the crowd, bought airtime, and began using computers themselves while observing the activities of those around them. Once their suspicions were confirmed, they rose and identified themselves, requiring each of the users of the cafe to remain on site until they had confirmed what email addresses they had been using, and what activities those email addresses had been performing. "This Day" in Lagos reports that at least one Yahoo Man jumped out the window when the raid began. This Day reports that the following day the cyber cafes were nearly empty, "leaving only those with serious business".

In Onitsha, things went a bit differently, according to The Nigerian Tribune, with officers arriving in an unmarked Toyota van and blocking off the road leading to Main Market to prevent the flight of cyber cafe operators.

Sixteen arrests were made, primarily of Yahoo Boys, who spend their days reading and sending scam emails hoping to encourage rich Americans to part with their money. At least one cyber cafe operator was also arrested, and several computers were confiscated as evidence.

The most fascinating part of this story, however, is not in the current day's news. For the story behind the story we have to go back to March 17th, when the President of Nigeria, Umaru Yar'Adua, announced that he was planning to establish a separate body known as the National Cyber Crimes Commission. The bill, which was described in Nigeria's Business Day Online, was called necessary precisely because the EFCC cannot effectively "handle the cyber crimes in addition to its other responsibilities". Business Day Online's source said the activities of the Yahoo Boys are having a negative impact on the government and on investment and a separate agency was required to handle the situation.

The bill to establish the National Cyber Crimes Commission is still in the National Assembly. With the president leaning on both chambers for quick passage, is the EFCC trying to prove the bill is unnecessary?

Public opinion has turned against the EFCC, as represented in a recent column in the IndependentNGOnline, called "Heroes, Yahoo Boys, and the Rest of Us". (Sorry, the article is no longer online, the author "angrymichael2004@yahoo.com" has a regular column called "Conversations of an Angry Man"). The column calls the Yahoo Boys "Criminal Eaglets", and warns the EFCC that if they continue to "deliberately overlook" the Yahoo Boys, they are going to use their relative wealth to graduate to the true houses of power.

The columnist continues "I had the impression that the EFCC may rather wait for these fraudsters to cut their teeth in politics or public administration before going after them", but he then goes on to say those who chase down and catch these crooks are the true heroes. While the President is welcoming as national heroes Nigerian boxer, Samuel Peter, and the Under 17 World Championship Nigerian soccer team, the Golden Eaglets, the columnist recommends the President proclaim those who catch cyber criminals National Heroes instead.

Whether the NCCC is formed, or whether the EFCC decides to take their cyber crime responsibilities more seriously, the benefit on the American public should be positive. For today, the EFCC are Crime Fighting Heroes. I hope it continues!

[Kittychan]

Oh there is the roof jumping picture

[Cold War Kid]

Maybe dem boyz forget roof jumping skills because no arrests recently?