FBI list: We’ll unravel bigger suspects, says EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says more suspects will be uncovered as investigation into the 77 Nigerians recently indicted for internet-related crimes by the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) continues.

Friday Elebo, the Ibadan zonal head of EFCC, told journalists on Wednesday that the commission had commenced investigations on the Nigerians indicted by FBI.

“I want to assure you that by the time we conclude our investigations, we will unravel bigger suspects because the figure currently released by the FBI is like one percent of the cycle of persons involved in the cybercrime network.

“Just yesterday (Tuesday), we arrested a banker who was involved in converting foreign currencies to Naira at a local bank in Nigeria. He is currently helping the commission with information on our investigation.”

Ebelo said the commission was in collaboration with some international agencies with similar mandates, especially FBI, to curb internet crimes and illicit funds transfer.

He said as a responsive organisation, the EFCC will do everything within its constitutional powers to ensure that the interests of hardworking and law-abiding Nigerians are protected.

“We will ensure that Nigerians are not denied the fruits of their labour by the recalcitrant few. We will work assiduously to ensure that those who engage in acts capable of tarnishing the good image of the country are prosecuted,” he said.

Ebelo said Nigerians were known to be creative, hardworking and intelligent, saying that these had been effectively proven by records of many groundbreaking achievements attributed to them across the world.

“We cannot pretend to be oblivious of the nagging impact of illicit activities of a few who have chosen to be black sheep within the fold,” he said.

The EFCC chief said from January till date, the zonal office had arrested 263 suspected internet fraudsters out of whom 111 were convicted and sentenced to various jail terms.