During a meeting with editors at the EFCC headquarters, Chairman Ola Olukoyede shared a shocking incident involving a 17-year-old who hacked into his personal computer and bank account.
The teen, who was being interrogated in Lagos, demonstrated his hacking abilities on Olukoyede’s laptop and retrieved his BVN and bank account details.
Olukoyede expressed alarm at the implications of such actions and emphasized the need to deter young individuals from engaging in cybercrimes. He acknowledged the potential criminality and opportunities in such activities but stressed the importance of intervention to redirect youth.
Regarding punishment for cybercrimes by minors, Olukoyede called for light sentences and rehabilitation efforts. “We don’t want to ruin their futures,” he said. “We lecture them and talk to them.”
The incident also revealed the boy’s family situation. Olukoyede disclosed that he was the primary breadwinner for his parents and younger siblings.
In response, Olukoyede pledged to cover the boy’s education expenses if he renounced his criminal activities. He also sought assistance for the boy’s siblings’ education.
This disclosure aligns with the EFCC’s approach to rehabilitating convicted internet fraudsters with reduced sentences. The goal is to prevent youth from engaging in cybercrime and avoid the stigma of being labeled “ex-convicts.” CONTINUE READING
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