Yahoo boys stole judge’s N7.2m child’s school fees overnight, EFCC chair

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Ola Olukoyede recounted a distressing incident where suspected internet fraudsters, known as Yahoo Boys, defrauded a serving judge of over N7.2 million. The money, saved over six years for her child's education, was stolen in the middle of the night, with the judge receiving multiple debit alerts around 1 a.m.

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She had just been scammed of the money she had been putting together for six years to send her child to school. She said it was alerts that woke her up. She received debits at that time of the day. Before she knew it, she had been scammed of about N7.2 million.

Olukoyede shared the story at the public presentation of books by retired Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye, emphasizing the judge's urgent plea for intervention. The incident occurred in a state where the EFCC had previously faced legal restrictions on investigating certain financial crimes, adding a layer of complexity.

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No, no, no! This is an exception. You must do something immediately!

Despite the legal hurdles, the EFCC managed to recover the full amount for the judge before 6 p.m. the same day. Olukoyede noted the judge's personal experience would likely influence her future judicial decisions regarding such cases. He stressed that combating cybercrime requires a unified effort from law enforcement, citizens, and the judiciary.

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Before 6 p.m., we recovered the entire money for her.

The EFCC chairman also touched upon the increasing role of artificial intelligence in criminal investigations, calling for necessary legal reforms to address evolving technological challenges and ensure evidence admissibility.

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Not until we, as Nigerians, come together and agree to face this challenge, law enforcement agencies playing their role, citizens doing their part, and the judiciary too doing its part, it is only then that we will be able to put this problem behind us.