Magu: Mothers Of ‘Yahoo Boys’ Now Forming Association

In what appears to be a startling revelation, the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has said mothers of internet fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo Yahoo boys are now foaming an association.

Magu stated this at the Ikoyi office of the EFCC while speaking with journalist on Thursday.

He noted with dismay that such parents always justify the activities of their children, claiming that they are the ones supporting their families in place of irresponsible or dead fathers.

The anti-graft boss revealed that the commission was not only interested in arresting these fraudsters but to also see that they are rehabilitated so that they can channel their intelligence and talents into positive ventures that would benefit the nation.

Magu said the EFCC had now begun to appeal to parents as well as the media to join the war against cybercrime by not celebrating unexplained wealth.

Magu, who said the commission’s premises were littered with recovered vehicles, said plans were underway to auction them as well as recovered houses.

He said, “We are looking at how we can rehabilitate the Yahoo boys; these are young boys, who have graduated, who are in the university. We want to see how we can sensitise them; how we can make them know that the Yahoo Yahoo business is wrong.

“And we are also appealing to their mothers. The parents of these children, they have actually formed an association of Yahoo Yahoo Mothers’ Association – Yes; they are there – Association of Mothers of Yahoo Yahoo Boys.

“Some of them will say the father did not do anything; these boys came, demolished the house and put up a new structure. If you see the cars that we have recovered, you will think that we are in car business. These are all Yahoo Yahoo. All brands of cars – Jaguar, Rolls Royce.

“We want to correct them (Yahoo boys) so they can go back as responsible citizens; people who can be very useful; the knowledge can be utilised; we can bring back the knowledge and make it more be useful.

“We are prepared and we are not shying away from arresting and arraigning them, but we are thinking that we should find a way to manage them, so that they can be useful citizens. These are very intelligent boys; we can use their intellect for positive purposes for this country.”

Speaking on Diezani Alison-Madueke’s forfeited jewelry, Magu, said internationally certified’ auctioneers would auction the $40 million (about N14.4 billion) jewellery .

In September this year, the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered that the 2,149 pieces of jewellery and a customised gold iPhone, valued at $40m and recovered from the Abuja home of Mrs Diezani, be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Diezani who was appointed the minister of petroleum resources on April 12, 2010, according to findings by the EFCC showed that she allegedly started acquiring the jewellery in 2012 from Bukola Oyewumi of Trinket Box Bespoke Jewellery at Ikeja City Mall, Alausa and others.

Giving account of the commission’s achievement on fight against cybercrime, Magu disclosed that the aim of the anti-graft agency was not only to arrest suspect ,but to destroy their criminal network through intelligence gathering.

Recall that Magu had on the 18^th of this month stated that the agency is looking at exploring some window of opportunities with the yahoo boys.

The mother of Nigerian singer, Azeez Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley had sometime in May this year broken down in tears following the arraignment and detention of her son for alleged cybercrime.