EFCC Establishes Cyber Crime Research Centre To Combat Internet Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the establishment of a Cyber Crime Research Centre as part of its initiatives to tackle internet fraud and build capacity in combating cybercrime.

This was disclosed by the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, during a town hall meeting themed “Uniting the Youths Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity.” The event, organized by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, marked the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Olukoyede, represented by the Zonal Director, Harry Erin, highlighted the Commission’s proactive measures aimed at educating young people on the dangers of cybercrime. He urged youths to reject corruption and embrace integrity for a brighter future.

Quoting the EFCC Chairman: “As we always say, taking short cuts always cuts people short. Reject the shortcut of corruption and your future will be established.”

He emphasized the detrimental impact of corruption on all age groups, particularly its negative effects on the opportunities and prospects of young people.

The keynote speaker, John Baiyeshea (SAN), called for stricter penalties, including the death sentence, for those found guilty of stealing the nation’s wealth. He criticized the nation’s legal system for its failure to apply appropriate sanctions against corrupt leaders, urging pastors and imams to pray for divine intervention against corruption.

In his words: “I urge pastors and Imams to collectively decree God’s judgement on corrupt people. They should remind God of His words in the scriptures against people stealing our collective patrimony.

“Corruption is the greatest industry in Nigeria and it has led to economic collapse. That is why there is poverty and hunger in a land that God has blessed us to flourish.

“We export corruption because the money that our people steal in billions of dollars is residing in those countries and it is cheap money in their systems. Something is fundamentally wrong with our system.

“Those corrupt people are stronger than our legal system. They are stronger than our law enforcement agencies.

“That is why I recommend death sentence as punishment against treasury looters. In Hong Kong, Singapore, China, North Korea punishing for treasury looters is death sentence. We should not be afraid to sentence to death those stealing our money.

“The wealth of the country of over 200 million people is in the hands of about 2,000 people, according to a study. This is the only country where we hero-worship corrupt people.

“If forefathers of the Americas, Europe had stolen the countries’ money, where will our children be running to now?”, he asked.