ECONOMIC CRIMES COMMISSION ARREST ‘YAHOO BOYS’ KINGPIN, OPERATES OFFSHORE ACCOUNT IN CHINA

The Commission spokesman said, Onoriode, a 29-year-old graduate of Delta State University, Abraka who is married with two kids. also admitted that he has been in the “yahoo” business for a very long time and currently operates an offshore account in China.

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‘The Saturday morning operation led to the arrest of a known “yahoo” kingpin, Akpojivi Joel Onoriode, a 29-year-old graduate of Delta State University, Abraka who is married with two kids’,Orilade said in a statement.

He said: “I was really known in my school then as a yahoo boy. I have two kids. I didn’t want to bring them up where people will say, ah! your father is a yahoo boy. That was why I relocated my family from Asaba to Calabar. When I came out now and saw you people and the bus outside, my mind just told me there was a problem”

Penpushing further reports that, while conducting a search on the premises, three luxury cars were recovered from him – ZDX Acura car, E 300 Mercedes Benz and a Range Rover SUV, while the Range Rover could, however, not be moved out of the premises with other exhibits due to mechanical problems.

The Head of Media and Publicity of the commission also disclosed that, other items recovered from the suspect include, two iPhones, one Nokia phone, and documents of landed properties owned by the suspect.

Penpushing also reports that, in a related development, a morning raid on May 5, led to the arrest of another set of internet fraudsters which include; Ifeanyi Chukwudi, Godwin Joseph and Iluobe Daniel, who were picked up at different locations within Calabar, following intelligence reports gathered by operatives of the Commission, as a result of the high rate of cybercrime in the town.

‘Chukwudi confessed that he specialized in love scam, admitting that he had “made a lot of money from the business (yahoo-yahoo)”, the commission said, adding that the suspect said, “I have defrauded women from the UK (United Kingdom). They usually pay me after we get engaged, and then, they will now want me to come over, that’s when they send me money and that’s how I get paid.”

Penpushing reports that, some of the items recovered from his apartment at Effiong Close, Satellite Town, Calabar include: one iPhone 8 Plus, one HP laptop containing fraudulent letters of false claims, and nine SIM cards, while Joseph and Daniel were arrested at Itagbor Agbeansa area of Calabar, with exhibits which include; Toyota Camry LE, one HP laptop containing scam emails and several exotic phones were recovered from them.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Head of Media and Publicity, Tony Orilade said the suspects will soon be charged to court after completion of investigations.