By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed how suspected internet fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo boys, stole more than ₦7.2 million from the bank account of a serving judge in a midnight cyberattack.
Olukoyede disclosed the incident while speaking at the public presentation of two books authored by retired High Court judge, Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye.
According to him, the judge called him around 1 a.m. after receiving multiple debit alerts from her bank account, informing him that the money she had saved over six years for her child’s education had been stolen.
He said the victim lost about ₦7.2 million before reaching out to the commission for assistance.
Olukoyede explained that despite legal restrictions preventing the EFCC from carrying out certain investigations in the state where the incident occurred, the commission acted swiftly and recovered the entire amount before the close of business that same day.
He said the incident highlights the growing threat posed by cybercrime and the need for Nigerians to take online fraud more seriously.
According to the EFCC chairman, many people underestimate the impact of cybercrime until they become victims themselves.
Olukoyede also called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, the judiciary and members of the public to curb internet-related crimes across the country.
He further urged the National Assembly and legal experts to review existing laws to accommodate the use of artificial intelligence in criminal investigations, noting that current legal provisions make it difficult for AI-generated evidence to be admitted in court.
Also speaking at the event, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi (SAN), urged anti-corruption agencies to intensify efforts to recover stolen public funds traced to foreign countries.
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