Blessing Okorite, Port Harcourt
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said the commission would soon publish names of arrested suspected cyber criminals and the political candidates they sponsored to secure public offices, during the 2019 general elections.
Port Harcourt Zonal Head of the EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, disclosed these in Rivers State, on Tuesday, while addressing newsmen on the collaboration between the commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the fight against cyber crime.
Bawa noted that the zone has been working on 13 suspects on the FBI watch list, stating that 2 of the suspects, Ogbonnah Atoukaritou, formerly based I London and Alpha Chidi Egbeonu, formerly based in Japan, have been arrested.
He said the Commission investigations have shown that some suspected cyber criminals funded the election of some political office holders in the just concluded general elections in the country.
The commission also disclosed that within January and August this year, it has secured 149 convictions in internet and oil theft cases.
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He said, “We are aware about the Economic; social and cultural negative consequences of these crimes. It tarnishes our image, nationally and internationally, our youths are dropping out of school, they are killing genuine businesses and recent findings indicate that they are sponsoring politicians into elective offices.
“The Port Harcourt’s Zonal Office of EFCC is working seriously on 13 different cases of cyber crimes in collaboration with the FBI.
Bawa also disclosed that the EFCC has arrested 105 suspects for cyber criminal offences within the eight months, adding that it has already secured 32 convictions.
He said, “Our solo efforts as a zone on cyber-crime related cases indicate 105 arrests made, 32 convictions secured, 41 cases under prosecution and additional 63 cases under investigation.
On the issues of oil theft and illegal dealing in petroleum products, Bawa disclosed that it the zone has secured conviction of 149 oil thieves within eight months.
He said, “Generally, the Port Harcourt’s Zonal office is peculiar on the investigation of crude oil theft and illegal dealings in oil-related products.
“The last eight months have been months of intensive and extensive investigations and prosecution of oil related and several internet-related cases in which the zone has recorded 149 convictions, made N268,934,375.75. $2,012,568.00 and E15,000.00, recoveries and have 162 cases in court.”
The EFCC Boss added that the zone recovered six vessels, four tug boats, five barges, four wooden boats, 2 speed boat, 242 trucks within the period in review.
