EFCC arrests 792 fraudsters in six hours, secures 4,111 convictions – Oyewole

By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri

MAIDUGURI — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the arrest of 792 fraudsters, including 192 foreigners, in a six-hour operation in 2024.

The disclosure was made by Mr. Dele Oyewole, Head of Media and Publicity at EFCC headquarters, during a one-day capacity-building workshop for civil society organizations (CSOs) and journalists in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Oyewole said that following their prosecution, the 192 foreign nationals were deported, and the commission also secured the forfeiture of 753 duplexes linked to criminal proceeds.

Addressing concerns that EFCC targets only internet fraud, Oyewole clarified that in 2024 the commission arraigned five former governors and five former ministers. He added that the EFCC secured 4,111 convictions between 2024 and 2025.

He further revealed that in 2024, the EFCC recovered N566 billion from financial crimes. Part of these funds was used by the government for developmental projects, while other portions were allocated to education, including support for indigent students through NELFUND.

Opening the workshop, Barrister Aisha Habib, Acting North East Zonal Director of EFCC, emphasized that combating corruption requires collaboration with CSOs and the media, who have better access to communities. She highlighted the importance of public awareness in preventing financial crimes, especially emerging threats such as cryptocurrency fraud.

“The key message to the public is: beware, be cautious, and don’t be greedy. There is no investment that guarantees 200% overnight profit. If it seems too good to be true, it is not true,” she warned.

The workshop featured resource persons including Mr. Muawiyya Abdulkarim and Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, Head of Legal and Prosecution Department at EFCC Maiduguri, represented by Aliyu Abdulmalik. They guided participants on understanding cryptocurrency fraud, emerging financial crimes, and strategies for effective prosecution.

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