Scam Alert: EFCC Not Offering N1m Reward to Yahoo Yahoo Informants
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission wishes to inform the general public that it has not issued any notice in social media promising a financial reward for anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of a Yahoo Boy.
This clarification became necessary following phone calls by citizens wanting to cash in on notices in the social media by fraudsters promising a reward of One Million Naira (N1, 000,000) for friends, family and relatives of yahoo boys who hand them over to the EFCC.
The promo with #Efcc and #beagoodcitizen states, “If you have a Yahoo Yahoo boy as Family, Friend or Relative, Kindly hand them over to us, and get a Massive reward of 1million naira.”
The Commission wishes to state that this message is alien to the EFCC, and members of the public are enjoined to disregard them.
Promoters of the hashtags are currently under surveillance and every effort will be made to bring them to justice.
While the Commission welcomes information that could lead to the arrest of cybercrime suspects, it has no policy of financial reward for such informants. The fight against corruption and other forms of economic crime is a patriotic duty and Nigerians are encouraged to embrace it with altruism.
The whistleblower policy of the Federal Government which the Commission is among the agencies saddled with its implementation is applicable only to public sector corruption.
The public is warned that the Commission will not be responsible for anyone who falls for this obvious scam.
EFCC, Army to Collaborate in Tackling Terrorists Financing
The Maiduguri Zonal Head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Onwukwe C. Obiora, has stressed the need for the Nigerian Army and the Commission to collaborate in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing in the Northeast.
He stated this Thursday, May 6, 2021, during a courtesy visit to the Theatre Command, Operation Hadin Ka, in Maiduguri, Borno State.
According to him, ”the Theatre Command is a very critical stakeholder in the fight against corruption and the role it plays is enormous. Therefore, it is necessary and important for the Nigerian Army to join hands with us to end insurgency in Nigeria by identifying and cutting off the source of financing for the insurgents.
”We want to equally inform you that in carrying out our mandate the Commission ensures that movement of cash by Non-Governmental Organisations across the local governments in Borno, Yobe and some part of Adamawa states must be approved by the Zonal Office”.
He further stated that if sponsors of insurgency, kidnapping were cut off, the fight will be worn by the Theatre Command.
Obiora appealed to the Command to report suspected illicit funds linked to NGOs or individuals to the Commission.
In his response, the Theatre Commander, Major General F. Yahaya pledged the Command’s support to the EFCC.
According to him, the Army will help the Commission in identifying and reporting the bad eggs amongst NGOs, Bureau de changes operators and other local contractors with the aim of stopping money laundering and terrorists financing in the Northeast.
In a related development, the Army has pledged to improve the existing relationship between it and the EFCC. The Commander, 3 Brigade Nigerian Army, Kano, Brigadier General S. Nicodemus made the pledge Thursday, May 6 when he visited the Kano Zonal Office of the EFCC. The General who assumed command of the Brigade on April 23, 2021, said the visit was to cement the existing relationship between the Army and the Agency.
He disclosed that he was briefed by his predecessor of the cordial relationship that exists between the Brigade and the EFCC and urged the Zonal Head to uphold the relationship.
The Kano Zonal Head, Mualledi Farouq Dogondaji in his response, assured Gen Nicodemus of enhanced relationship and support.
Dogondaji further stated that the doors of the Commission were open to the Nigerian Army.
EFCC, A Critical Partner in Global Crime War – FBI
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI has described the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as a critical partner in the global fight against organized crime and corruption that needed to be commended for its professionalism.
The Legal Attaché of the Bureau, Uche Ahmadi made the commendation on Thursday, May 6, 2021, when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Enugu Zonal Head of the Commission, Oshodi Johnson in his office at Independence Layout, Enugu.
“EFCC is a critical partner to the FBI and they have certain capacities in this fight against crime and are doing very well and we believe that if more values are added to their work, they would do even more. So, our visit is to strengthen our collaborative information sharing between,” he said.
He further stated that EFCC was on the right track and that FBI was ready to support the Commission in getting things done considering that the two organizations have a common mandate which is fighting all forms of cross border crimes.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Zonal Head, Johnson Oshodi observed that both organizations have a very cordial and symbiotic relationship. “FBI is a very important asset to us here at EFCC as we are to them and I wish to thank you for your usual cooperation especially in the area of sharing intelligence,” he said.
The stories are culled from the Commission’s Media & Publicity Department Bulletin on its website.
