The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has given landlords a warning to stop giving their houses to internet fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo boys.
The anti-graft agency threatened a jail term of 15 years for landlords that give their properties in rent to yahoo boys.
In a message from the anti-graft agency’s official Twitter handle, inviting the public to their next EFCC Connect on Wednesday, June 29, an open forum where they discuss with the members of the public, the message reads.
The commission’s Legal and Prosecution Officers will speak at the forum, the tenth edition of EFCC Connect.
The topic of the chat, ‘Give your house to Yahoo boys, spend 15 years in jail’, has elicited reactions on social media.
The EFCC had repeatedly warned owners of commercial properties against making them available to fraudsters.
Earlier in the month, the Abdulrasheed Bawa-led agency met with hotel owners in Ilorin, the Kwara capital.
Zonal Commander, Michael Nzekwe expressed concern about the “cold complicity by hospitality entrepreneurs”.
Nzekwe accused some of them of working with suspected fraudsters (Yahoo Boys) by housing them over a long period and making internet facilities available.
The official stated that such an act negates Section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
“The section provides for a prison term of between five and 15 years without an option of fine for any person who permits his premises to be used for any offence under the Act,” he said.
On the argument that hoteliers are business people and cannot determine who a fraudster is, Nzekwe explained the law doesn’t recognise the position.
The EFCC told them to always ask their customers for means of identification and to include their occupation during the check-in procedure.
