Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that internet fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo boys, stole ₦7.2 million from the bank account of a judge, prompting an emergency call to him in the early hours of the morning.

Speaking on the incident, Olukoyede said the judge contacted him around 1:00 a.m. after discovering the unauthorized withdrawal from her account.

According to him, he informed the judge that the incident occurred in a state where the EFCC had previously been restrained by a court order from investigating certain financial crimes. However, the judge maintained that her case required immediate intervention.

The EFCC chairman said the commission responded swiftly and successfully recovered the entire ₦7.2 million before 6:00 p.m. the following day.

Olukoyede used the incident to highlight the growing threat posed by cybercrime and financial fraud, emphasizing the importance of allowing anti-corruption agencies to carry out their statutory responsibilities without undue restrictions.

He further noted that personal experiences often change perspectives, adding that any future application seeking to prevent the EFCC from performing its duties would likely be viewed differently by someone who has directly suffered from financial crime.

The EFCC chairman reiterated the commission’s commitment to combating cybercrime, protecting citizens, and recovering stolen funds wherever possible.