EFCC refutes offering ₦1m to ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ informants

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied offering a financial reward of ₦1 million for anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of an internet fraudster, popularly known as ‘Yahoo Yahoo.’

The commission said this in a statement issued on Friday and signed by its Head, Media & Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren.

“Clarification became necessary following phone calls by citizens wanting to cash in on notices in the social media by fraudsters promising a reward of One Million Naira for friends, family, and relatives of Yahoo Boys who hand them over to the EFCC,” the EFCC said in the statement.

One of the notices with hashtags #EFCC and #beagoodcitizen said, “If you have a Yahoo Yahoo boy as family, friend, or relative, kindly hand them over to us, and get a massive reward of 1million naira.”

Uwujaren, however, urged the public to disregard the notices because they are alien to the commission, noting that “Promoters of the hashtags are currently under surveillance and every effort will be made to bring them to justice.”

The EFCC spokesman, however, stated that the commission “welcomes information that could lead to the arrest of cybercrime suspects, it has no policy of financial reward for such informants.”

He said, “The fight against corruption and other forms of economic crime is a patriotic duty and Nigerians are encouraged to embrace it with altruism.

“The whistleblower policy of the Federal Government which the commission is among the agencies saddled with its implementation is applicable only to public sector corruption.

“The public is warned that the commission will not be responsible for anyone who falls for this obvious scam.”