By Wisdom Patrick

Some 197 cases of Cyber-related crimes  involving over nine commercial banks and six Bureau D’ Change are pending at both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force respectively, Political Economist can authoritatively reveal.

Checks by our correspondent revealed that at EFCC Lagos office alone operatives were trying to solve the puzzle behind some 100 of such cases, whereas the Police detectives at SFU at Milverton Road, Ikoyi in Lagos  are still combing through the files and scouring the monetary system to unravel some 97 cases.

Tunde Ogunsakin, a Police Commissioner (CP) and head of the SFU, said “we are treating a large number of Cybercrime cases. Let me say this, we have a special unit handling such matter here and that is for professionalism and dispatch.”

According to him, over nine commercial banks (names withheld) all based in Lagos are being investigated for Cybercrime cases ranging from illegal transfer of money through the internet, by-passing the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Bureau (NIFIU) or other related security agency.

He posited that, even with the sophistication of the cyber criminals, “SFU has been able to give them sleepless nights, especially in the city of Lagos and Abuja. We have successfully charged over five of them to court and the trial is still going on at various courts in the country.”

At EFCC where some 100 of Cybercrime related cases were reported last year alone, and are currently under-going investigation, the Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde said over 50 of these cases are before a court of competent jurisdiction in Lagos.

He also said that presently five banks in Lagos have been warned by the anti-graft agency for engaging in electronic fund transfer fraud, while five persons are currently serving various prison  sentences.

He said fight against the heinous crime requires every citizen’ involvement. “After all it is all  of us that are being treated with contempt outside the shores of this country, so everybody must get involved in this fight.”

In the  cases involving Bureau D’ Change, Lamorde said the concerned operators have been sanctioned accordingly. He said such sanctions include withdrawal of operating license and forfeiture of such money to the state.