THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of 146 out of 194 foreigners arrested for cybersecurity attacks relating to financial crimes in the country.
“Last year, we arrested about 194 foreigners who were involved in various forms of financial crimes and activities that are inimical to the economic growth and development of our country.
“Today, I can tell you that we have succeeded in prosecution and conviction of 146 of them. They will serve their jail terms and will be repatriated to their respective countries, ” Olukoyede said.
He said majority of the foreigners posed as Nigerians with stolen identities to defraud unsuspecting individuals and institutions in the country, while Nigerians are being accused wrongly for such crimes.
The Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede disclosed this on Wednesday at the Abuja Continental Hotel during the opening ceremony of the International Cybersecurity Conference organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA.
The Conference is being attended by the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the Senate Committee Chairman on Cybersecurity, Senator Shuaibu Salihu, the Chairman House Committee on Cybersecurity, Mr Stanley Adedeji, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Richards Mills, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Mr Adeladan Rafiu, among others.
According to the EFCC Chairman, the 146 foreigners would serve their jail terms before being repatriated to their country.
He praised the FBI, Interpol and other international security institutions for their support in ensuring successful prosecution of the cyber criminals.
Olukoyede said the EFCC would soon inaugurate a Cybersecurity Centre in its facility with the capability to detect and respond to Cybersecurity attacks within one hour, stressing that Cybersecurity attacks relating to financial crimes are becoming more organised across the world.
He said it had become imperative for security institutions and agencies as well as banks and regulatory bodies to collaborate to combat cyber crimes, saying the EFCC would soon Commission a 500-capacity Research Centre for reformation and rehabilitation of convicted cyber criminals.
