EFCC Arrests Galore in Jalingo, Abuja, Lagos, Nassarawa
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are not resting on the resolve to tackle economic crimes in Nigeria. Officials of EFCC are in the six geo political zones looking for internet fraudsters to arrest them.
In Gombe for instance, the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Sunday, April 27, 2025 arrested 27 suspected internet fraudsters in Jalingo, Taraba State. The suspects were arrested at Fenson Guest house and mile 6 in Jalingo, based on credible intelligence on their alleged involvement in internet fraud.
Items recovered from them include one Toyota Camry car( 2013 model) ,27phones, five laptops and other electronic devices.
Similarly, the Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, April 25, 2025 arrested 24 suspected internet fraudsters.
They were arrested at Mararaba in Nasarawa State following actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in cybercrimes.
Items recovered from them include three cars, 34 phones and 7 laptops
Also, operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arrested 15 suspected internet fraudsters. They were arrested during a sting operation on Friday, April 25 , 2025 at Maple and Jand Court, Royal Pine Estate, Orchid Road, Lekki, Lagos, following credible intelligence on their suspected involvement in fraudulent internet-related activities. Items recovered from them at the point of arrest include mobile phones, laptop computers and cars.
Similarly operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arrested 40 (forty) suspected internet fraudsters. They were arrested on Wednesday April 29, 2025 in Tamah, in the Tamah Local Government Area of Nassarawa State. Their arrest followed actionable intelligence linking them with suspected fraudulent activities. Items recovered from them include five laptops and 34 mobile phones.
The EFCC,Head, Media and Publicity said all the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Meanwhile, another dimension of movement of cash was uncovered in Kano by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kano Zonal Directorate as a bag containing the sum of $86,500 (Eighty-Six Thousand Five Hundred United States Dollars), 305,150( Three Hundred and five, One Hundred and Fifty Saudi Riyals, and 200 Euros was confiscated by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The funds were discovered in an unaccompanied bag suspected to have been smuggled into the country and intercepted on Sunday April 27, 2025 when a clearing agent, Sale Bala, attempted to retrieve the bag.
Upon physical inspection, Customs officers uncovered the foreign currencies concealed in bed spreads (duvets) and date packs tucked in the luggage. Further investigation led to the arrest of Bala and a second suspect, Abdullahi Tahir, who was reportedly tasked with receiving the bag after clearance.
The money was handed over to the EFCC by Chief Superintendent of Customs, CSC Abdulahi Hashim and received on behalf of the Commission by Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE11 Aminu Bashir.
The suspects as well as the seized funds are in the custody of the Commission and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
The EFCC commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its vigilance and reiterated the importance of inter-agency cooperation in safeguarding the nation’s economy.
The Commission, in collaboration with Customs and other stakeholders, is intensifying efforts to enlighten stakeholders on the legal requirements for cash movement and the consequences of non-compliance.
Hence on Saturday, April 26, 2025 the EFCC, ICPC and the Nigeria Customs Service jointly organized a sensitization program to educate all stakeholders about cash movement in and out of Nigeria on the legal requirements for the movement of cash as enshrined in the Nigerian laws and regulations. The event witnessed a massive audience ranging from the bureau de change community, travel agencies, airport authorities and pilgrim boards as well as the Kano Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
For now fraudsters who hide in hotels to operate are now relocating to rural areas but the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyode has told officers of the Commission to fish out fraudsters no matter where they are hiding to operate from. For now, is the fear of EFCC is the beginning of economic and financial peace? Time shall tell.