EFCC arrests 13 suspected internet fraudsters

Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, March 21, 2025, arrested thirteen (13) suspected internet fraudsters at different locations within Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

They were arrested in an intelligence-driven sting operation, with seven of the suspects arrested at Campgee hotel, five arrested along Mission Road, off Ring Road 3 and the other one in another location, all within Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Items recovered from them include two exotic cars, five laptops and 14 smartphones.

They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Also, Diaspora Digital Media has gathered that the anti-graft agency has begun investigating Okorie Sunday, arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with $578,000 by the Nigeria Customs Service.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, saying that the suspect would be charged to court following the investigation’s conclusion.

Oyewale explained that Effiong Harrison, Area Comptroller of Customs at the airport, handed the suspect over to the EFCC on Friday for falsely declaring currency.

He said Sunday arrived from Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday and declared $279,000 at the Currency Declaration Desk upon entry into the country.

However, Customs officials discovered an additional $299,000 concealed in separate packages, bringing the total undeclared amount to $578,000, which led to his arrest.

Further inspection revealed the suspect also hid €100 and a counterfeit $250 note, further aggravating the breach of currency declaration laws.

Harrison condemned the act, citing that it violates the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, which mandates declaring sums above $10,000 or equivalent upon entry or exit.

Speaking for the Comptroller-General, Adewale Adeniyi, Harrison confirmed that the $578,000 would be formally handed over to the EFCC for continued investigation.

In Abuja, the Commission has arrested 133 suspects at a ponzi scheme Academy in Abuja.

A statement by the head of media and publicity of the commission says, the Academy located in Gwagwalada is in the business of recruiting young Nigerians who are trained to recruit more citizens into the scheme with the promise of getting unrealistic profit returns.

The suspects are enrolled into a training codenamed: “Special Training for New Generation Billionaire” by obtaining a form the promoters called “Independent Representative Application Form”.

The EFCC carried out the operation in collaboration with officers and men of 176 Guards Battalion, Nigerian Army.

Items recovered from the suspects include phones, computers and other electronic gadgets.

The suspects will be arraign before a competent court of jurisdiction as soon as investigations are concluded.

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