On Friday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) handed over $22,000 recovered from a convicted internet fraudster, Hakeem Ayotunde Olanrewaju, to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in Lagos.
The funds, which were recovered from Olanrewaju, who was sentenced to two years imprisonment for identity theft and impersonation, were ordered by Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, to be restituted to his victim in the United States of America (USA) on August 15, 2023.
During the handover ceremony in Lagos, the Acting Director of the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC, Michael T. Wetkas, reiterated the Commission’s commitment to combating crimes and restoring order to the nation.
He expressed delight in handing over the proceeds of the crime and affirmed the EFCC’s readiness to do more.
In response, the FBI Legal Attaché, Charles Smith, emphasised the collaborative efforts between the EFCC and the FBI.
He acknowledged the EFCC’s role in recovering funds, especially from Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams, which severely impact businesses in the USA.
“This type of crime cripples businesses in the US, and for them to recover the money within one to two years gives hope to the affected companies and brings some level of justice, even if not all subjects have been identified.
“We hope our relationship continues and fosters a more cohesive partnership between the two agencies. If there’s anything the FBI can do to support this investigation, we will do so.
“We appreciate this on behalf of the FBI and thank the EFCC.”
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EFCC Hands Over $22,000 Recovered From Convicted Internet Fraudster To FBI in Lagos
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, May 17, 2024, handed over the sum of $22,000 recovered from a convicted internet fraudster, Hakeem Ayotunde Olanrewaju, to the… pic.twitter.com/xLqd6fbmnj
— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC) May 18, 2024
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