EFCC Reveals How 'Yahoo Boys' Stole ₦7.2 Million from Judge's Account Overnight
The EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed that cybercriminals known as 'Yahoo boys' stole ₦7.2 million from a judge's bank account in a single night. Debit alerts reportedly woke the judge as the funds were being withdrawn.
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The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that suspected cybercriminals known as 'Yahoo boys' stole ₦7.2 million from a judge's bank account overnight. The incident was disclosed during a public briefing on financial crime trends in Nigeria.
According to Olukoyede, the judge was awakened by a series of debit alerts on her phone as the unauthorized withdrawals occurred. The EFCC chairman did not disclose the judge's identity or the specific bank involved. He emphasized that the case illustrates the growing sophistication of cybercriminal networks targeting high-profile individuals.
The EFCC is investigating the breach, which highlights vulnerabilities in digital banking systems. Olukoyede warned that even individuals in sensitive positions are not immune to such fraud. "If a sitting judge can be targeted, no one is safe," he said, as reported by Pulse Nigeria.
The term 'Yahoo boys' refers to a loose network of Nigerian internet fraudsters often involved in romance scams, business email compromise, and identity theft. While arrests have been made in similar cases in recent years, enforcement remains inconsistent. The EFCC has urged financial institutions to strengthen authentication protocols to prevent further incidents.
No suspects have been publicly named in connection with the theft. The commission did not provide details on whether any of the stolen funds have been recovered. Investigations are ongoing.