In a remarkable encounter, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has narrated how a 17-year-old “yahoo boy” left him speechless with the young man’s impressive IT skills.
Olukoyede recounted the incident, which took place in his Lagos office, where he had summoned the teenage cybercriminal for interrogation. To the EFCC chairman’s astonishment, the young man was able to hack into Olukoyede’s personal computer and bank account right in his presence.
“Right in his presence, the boy opened the EFCC Chairman’s locked computer and told him he could move up to 10 million naira from any account at once,” Olukoyede revealed.
The EFCC boss expressed deep concern over the growing trend of young Nigerians deploying their talents in a negative way, engaging in cybercrime and other fraudulent activities. However, Olukoyede said he also saw an opportunity in the boy’s abilities.
“I see crime in that, I also see opportunities in it,” the EFCC chairman stated, adding that the commission is working to change the orientation of such young people and steer them away from a life of crime.
According to Olukoyede, the 17-year-old boy, who is a undergraduate student of History and Anthropology, was able to obtain the EFCC chairman’s Bank Verification Number (BVN) and account details using only his phone number.
Determined to rehabilitate and redirect the youth, Olukoyede said the EFCC is developing new measures that involve punishment, deterrence, and rehabilitation to ensure the future of these young people is not destroyed by the criminal path they have chosen.
“What joy will I derive in sending a 17-year-old boy to jail? You have destroyed his future. You have destroyed his career,” Olukoyede said, explaining that the commission often gives young offenders the option of fines and lectures rather than lengthy jail sentences.
The EFCC chairman revealed that he has even taken personal responsibility for the boy’s schooling and education, as well as that of his younger siblings, in a bid to steer him away from cybercrime and towards a more positive future.
Olukoyede’s encounter with the 17-year-old has highlighted the complex challenge facing the EFCC in dealing with the growing menace of youth involvement in cybercrime. While the commission remains committed to prosecuting offenders, it is also exploring innovative approaches to rehabilitate and empower these young Nigerians, recognizing the need to address the root causes of the problem.
