July 09, (THEWILL) — On Wednesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed that 146 of 194 foreigners arrested for cybersecurity attacks relating to financial crimes in the country, are currently serving their jail terms in the country after it successfully secured their prosecution and conviction.
The Chairman of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede, who disclosed this in Abuja during the opening ceremony of the International Cybersecurity Conference organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said the arrests were made through a new EFCC-led operation targeting transnational cybercrime rings.
Noting that majority of the foreigners disguised as Nigerians with stolen identities to defraud unsuspecting individuals and institutions in the country, Olukoyede said, they would serve their jail terms before being repatriated to their country.
“Last year, we arrested about 194 foreigners who were involved in various forms of financial crimes and activities that are inimical to the economic growth and development of our country. Today, I can tell you that we have succeeded in prosecution and conviction of 146 of them. They will serve their jail terms and will be repatriated to their respective countries”, he said.
Olukoyede said the anti-graft agency is working closely with international partners such as the FBI, UK authorities, and the Italian government, with whom it recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly investigate and prosecute global cybercriminals. He commended the FBI, Interpol and other international security institutions for their support in ensuring successful prosecution of the cyber criminals.
As part of its reform efforts, the Commission is also establishing a 24/7 Cyber Crime Rapid Response Centre to provide real-time responses to cyberattacks.
“Our target is to respond to any cyberattack within one hour”, he said.
Olukoyede also announced plans to set up a Cybersecurity Research and Rehabilitation Centre to redirect the skills of convicted cybercriminals toward positive innovation. The centre will train 500 people at a time, provide stipends, and create opportunities for mentorship and employment in the tech sector. He lamented that many young offenders return to cybercrime due to lack of opportunities and called for more inclusive development efforts to channel their talents productively.
The EFCC boss revealed that some cyberattacks on Nigerian financial institutions had been aided by insiders in local banks, who provide foreign hackers with physical access devices, allowing them to operate remotely from Eastern Europe.
He said, “We are working with international agencies such as the FBI, UK authorities, and the Italian government. We’ve signed MoUs and agreed to jointly tackle transnational cybercrime. Nigeria will not serve as a safe base for international cybercriminals.
“By the end of this year, everything about our operations at the EFCC will be digitalised. From the submission of petitions to investigation and prosecution, we are already halfway through.
“We are setting up a 24/7 Cyber Crime Rapid Response Centre. Our goal is to respond to any reported cyberattack within one hour.
“We are also building a Cybersecurity Research Centre that will train 500 people at a time, especially young Nigerians who have been convicted of cybercrime. We want to redirect their skills toward innovation, not crime.
“Cybersecurity is not merely a technical challenge, it is a governance imperative. It demands leadership, coordination, and accountability.”
The Conference is being attended by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Senate Committee Chairman on Cybersecurity, Senator Shuaibu Salihu, the Chairman House Committee on Cybersecurity, Mr Stanley Adedeji, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Richards Mills, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Mr Adeladan Rafiu, among others.
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