EFCC secures conviction of 1,084 cyber criminals, 395 fraud cases

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has secured 395 convictions in advance fee fraud cases and 1,084 cybercrime convictions this year, the chairman of the Commission, Mr Ola Olukoyede, has said.

Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of a three-day cybercrime awareness programme organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the US Embassy, the EFCC boss said the anti-graft agency is committed to ensuring the due and timely enforcement of all cybercrime laws in the country and ridding the nation of economic and financial crimes, including cybercrime.

Represented by the Director, Legal and Prosecution Department of the EFCC, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, the EFCC chairman said cyber crimes have been on the rise as a result of an increase in the number of computer users, the growth of mobile communication, and the convergence of technologies into one single device.

He said the EFCC has observed that, as it is easier and smarter to do transactions online, it has equally become easier and smarter for cybercriminals to explore vulnerabilities on digital platforms to perform their sordid enterprise under the cloak of anonymity.

He said, “They no longer need to break traditional barriers like police checkpoints, gates, and doors, nor make lengthy and costly preparations such as buying guns, getaway cars, masks, and the like before they can rob unsuspecting individuals.

“Essentially, it appears as if cybercrimes are faster, cheaper, and easier to commit than traditional crimes”, he said, calling for corresponding action from the administration of criminal justice sector players to ensure the safety of the country’s cyberspace.

In his speech, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, represented by Justice Inyang Ekwo, said that raising awareness about cybercrimes will help the legal system be better prepared to defend cyber attacks, safeguard private information, regulate data protection, and guarantee that justice is served in the face of the constantly changing cyber threats.

While noting that the understanding of cybercrime is essential in the administration of justice, Justice Tsoho said, “At a time when technology permeates every aspect of our lives, upholding the rule of law and defending individual rights depend on our ability to recognise and respond to cybercrimes”.

He stressed the need for Nigeria, as a democratic society, to have a strong legal system to guarantee the supremacy of the law, the defence of individual rights, and the redress of wrongs, adding that practitioners of the legal profession and the judiciary cannot effectively discharge their responsibilities without depending on safeguarded digital infrastructures.

“Judges and solicitors alike, who uphold the law, depend on technology to keep the legal system operating efficiently and effectively. But this dependence also leaves our legal system open to fresh, modern attacks”, he said.

Earlier, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, said in her remarks that the awareness campaign will, among other things, highlight the need for the criminal justice sector to stay ahead of emerging cyber threats and adopt best practises to ensure the secure and reliable access to and delivery of justice that is consistent with the ideals of democracy and the rule of law.

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