The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned hotel owners to be careful of allowing internet fraudsters to gather around their facilities, and use it as a point of operation.
The commission gave this warning, after the arrest of 56 suspected internet fraudsters in Abeokuta, Ogun state, by the Ibadan zonal command of the Agency, on Tuesday September 14, 2021.
The suspects include: Garfar Olamide Taiwo, Fadimaye Habeeb, Badmus Idris, Samuel Victor, Seun Fuad, Alli Isaac, Oyeleke Mubarak, Bolu Soetan, Koleosho Eniola, Saheed Abidemi, Olaewe Tosin, Ayedun Idowu, Oniyitan Ayomide, Akinlabi Precious, Gbadebo Sultan, Adeyemi Habeeb, Balogun Hassan, Sulaimon Ayub Damilare, Akinsola Usman,
Others are; Ajibola Femi Sodiya, Ridwan Alani, Olusesi Lanre, Eniatimo Oludare, Taiwo Opeyemi, Akindele Kabiru Johnson Hammed, Idowu Gabriel, Adekanmi Adejumo, Peter Babatunde, Okeowo Sunday, Abudu Habeeb, Sabair Rasaq, Ademuyiwa Basit, Toriola Opeyemi, Babayode Abiola, Agbaje Habeeb, Sorinola Oluwatobiloba, Abiodun Elegbede, Kayode Daniel ,Lawal Alabi, Oyewole Korede, Aberuagba Gafar, Adekunle Emmanuel, Okunade Azeez, and Ojediran Sodiq.
EFCC disclosed that the suspected fraudsters were arrested based on intelligence backed by weeks of surveillance, at their hideouts in popular hotels in Ibadan, adding that during the operation, it was nearly frustrated by the hotel owners who employed various antics, including shutting down power supply, to enable some of the suspects to escape arrest.
According to the Commission, Despite the lack of cooperation by the hotel owners, the operatives demonstrated professionalism in ensuring that no one was hurt nor property damaged during the operations, contrary to the narrative in a section of the media. Nevertheless, the action of the hoteliers amounts to deliberate sabotage and obstruction of law enforcement officers, an offence punishable by Section 38 (2) (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.
EFCC noted that it will not tolerate such situations where hotel owners or managers try to sabotage their operations, and if they do will be faced with the law of Section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, which provides for a prison term of between five and 15 years without option of fine for any person who permits his premises to be used for any offence under the Act.
Also, the Commission had recovered ten exotic cars, dozens of mobile phones, laptops and several incriminating documents from the arrested suspected fraudsters in Abeokuta, adding that they will be arraigned in court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
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