The EFCC chairman noted that with the right guidance and direction, the young boy could become a valuable asset to the nation.
Mr. Olukoyede made this statement while addressing stakeholders in a video seen by Pulse on Thursday, May 2. He recounted that the boy had been apprehended by EFCC operatives and brought to his office for questioning. To assess the boy’s IT skills, the EFCC boss asked him to demonstrate how he perpetrated internet fraud.
“In my Lagos office, I had a 17-year-old boy who is studying history at the 200-level. He’s not in a science-related field. This boy sat in my office and showed me some things on my laptop,” Mr. Olukoyede said. “He asked for my phone number, and through that, he obtained my Bank Verification Number (BVN). He then told me my account number, the bank’s name, and other details, all without any assistance from me.”
The EFCC chairman was impressed by the boy’s technological prowess, given his lack of a formal background in the sciences. Despite the boy’s criminal activities, Olukoyede recognized his potential and suggested that, with proper mentorship and guidance, he could become a valuable national asset.
Pulse previously reported that Nigerian banks incurred a loss of ₦8 billion due to cybercrime. This information was derived from a report by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for 2022, which was released by the EFCC. According to Mr. Olukoyede, the same report indicated that Nigeria loses $500 million annually due to cybercrime.
