Ola Olukoyede, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, narrated an incident in which a 17-year-old, while being questioned at his Lagos office, managed to successfully hack into his personal computer and bank account.
The chairman of the anti-graft agency disclosed this, in a conversation with editors at the EFCC Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, last Tuesday.
Olukoyede narrated how he invited the 17-year-old to be questioned at his own office, only to see the young hacker walk straight past his secured computer’s security precautions right before his eyes.
He said, “I brought into my Lagos office a seventeen-year-old boy who is studying History and Anthropology. He is in the 200 level. He is not doing anything science-related. The guy sat in my office in Lagos and demonstrated some things to me on my laptop.
“He asked for my number, I gave him my number and through my number, he got my BVN. He then mentioned the name of my account number to me at the bank. I didn’t tell him anything.”
He says that the nation must take every appropriate action to dissuade these young people because their acts could result in jail time or even worse.
“The problem is, I see crime in that, and I also see opportunities in it. So, if you leave these guys, we don’t make them know that what they are doing is wrong, if you leave them, they will continue to see it as a way of life to make money.”
He stated that the EFCC would punish young people for cybercrimes they committed with light sentences because of their young ages, with an emphasis on assisting them in changing their orientation.
“We plead for light sentences so that we can reorientate them and that’s part of what we’re doing. What joy will I derive from sending a 17-year-old boy to jail? You have destroyed his future. You have destroyed his career.
“Sometimes they give them options of fines and all of that conviction, so we bring them in, lecture them and talk to them.”
The boy boldly told Olukoyede that he could transfer up to 10 million naira from any account in a single transaction, showcasing his skill.
When he was finished, he claimed the 17-year-old lad stated, “Look, oga, I can make 10 million now.” I will give you an example of that. I’ll transfer funds to my account from yours.
“I said no, don’t do that in my office and he was ready to do that. When he opened my laptop, I didn’t give him the key to my laptop and he had access.
When questioned about his involvement in cybercrime, the boy explained that his parents, who are both farmers, were unable to work on their farm due to security concerns.
“He has two younger ones. One is in JSS2 and the other is in SSS2. He is the one feeding his parents and responsible for the payment of tuition for his younger ones.
“I saw a Bill Gates in that guy.”
Olukoyede, however, assured the boy that he would take responsibility for his schooling if he was able to stop the criminal act.
“I told my family, we are going to do that.
“I spoke to one of my friends who is also ready to help take up the schooling of the SSS 2 guy. So I’m still looking for someone who will take up the one for the JSS 2 sibling.”
The EFCC chairman has already disclosed the anti-graft agency’s strategy to pardon and rehabilitate convicted internet fraudsters.
Addressing a delegation of the National Association of University Students in March 2024, he said “when you think deeply, that tag ‘ex-convict’ is not a good thing. You can never tell where you will find yourself tomorrow, and they will want to profile you and discover that you are an ex-convict.”
“So, it is even in the interest of the youth that the EFCC is doing what it is doing to prevent them from indulging in the heinous act of cybercrime.”
