The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday intensified its clampdown on cybercrime with the arrest of 21 suspected internet fraudsters across Akwa Ibom State and Abuja, and the arraignment of two others in Kaduna for alleged impersonation and obtaining money under false pretence.
In Akwa Ibom State, operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate arrested 14 suspects during an intelligence-driven sting operation conducted in Afaha Offot, Ikot Atuen, Abak, and Nwaniba areas.
The operation led to the recovery of 19 mobile phones and three laptops. The EFCC said the suspects would be arraigned in court after investigations are concluded.
Simultaneously, the Commission’s operatives in Abuja apprehended seven suspected internet fraudsters in the Lokogoma area.
The arrests were made following actionable intelligence linking the suspects to various cybercrimes.
Items recovered include 13 mobile phones of different brands and one international passport. Like their counterparts in Akwa Ibom, the Abuja suspects will also face prosecution upon the conclusion of ongoing investigations.
Meanwhile, in Kaduna, the EFCC arraigned two men, Nathaniel Makama Zabrang and Husain Umar Bawa, before Justice M.J. Zubairu of the Kaduna State High Court on separate charges of impersonation and fraud.
Zabrang, who allegedly posed as one Alicia Smith, a supposed U.S. citizen on Instagram, reportedly defrauded multiple victims of a total sum of ₦10,019,028 between January and June 2025.
Bawa, under the alias Bernard Lewis, is accused of impersonating a U.S. citizen on Facebook and duping one Kathleen Harnandez of ₦8,613,989 between January and December 2023.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The EFCC counsel, K.S. Ogunlade, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants in the Nigerian Correctional Centre (NCC) in Kaduna.
Justice Zubairu adjourned the case to August 11, 2025, for a ruling on their bail applications and ordered that the accused remain in custody pending the court’s decision.
The EFCC reiterated its commitment to combating internet fraud and bringing perpetrators to justice across Nigeria.
